The six hostages, whose bodies were found in Gaza over the summer, were probably shot in February by their captors as an Israeli strike hit close to the tunnel where they were held, the military said.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had retrieved the body of Itay Svirsky, who was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, and then killed in Hamas captivity, according to a statement from the Israeli military.

An apparent internal statement from Hamas includes an order to "neutralise" hostages if Israeli forces try to rescue them in action similar to the deadly Nuseirat camp operation.