JERUSALEM: In a recent development, the Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it has recovered the bodies of six hostages taken during Hamas' attack on October 7, which ignited the current war in Gaza.

The recovery occurred during an overnight operation in southern Gaza. The military identified the deceased hostages as Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, and Haim Perry. The military did not disclose the exact circumstances of their deaths.

Five of the hostages were over 50 years old when captured, and three of them had family members released during a cease-fire in November. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow over the loss, stating, "Our hearts ache for the terrible loss." He affirmed Israel's commitment to recovering all hostages, whether alive or deceased.

Currently, Hamas is believed to hold approximately 110 hostages from the October 7 attack, with Israeli authorities estimating that about a third of them may be dead.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his ninth visit to the region since the conflict began, noted that Netanyahu has agreed to a proposal aimed at bridging gaps in the cease-fire talks. He urged Hamas to do the same. However, Hamas has accused the U.S. of siding with Israeli demands and attempting to impose them.

The October 7 assault by Hamas resulted in the death of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of about 250 hostages. During a cease-fire last year, over 100 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel's retaliatory actions have caused significant casualties, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, though it is unclear how many were militants. The ongoing conflict has led to widespread destruction and forced nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents to evacuate their homes.

Negotiators are working on a three-phase proposal for a cease-fire, which includes the release of all hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal from the territory, and a lasting truce. However, substantial differences remain between the two sides.

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