Israel Pledges Justice For The Killed Hostages At Any Cost

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will not rest until those responsible for the deaths of six hostages, whose bodies were recently recovered from a tunnel in Gaza, are brought to justice. “We will hunt you down, we will catch you, and we will settle the score,” Netanyahu declared, promising a relentless pursuit of the perpetrators.

The heartbreaking discovery comes amid rising calls for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent release of remaining hostages.

The bodies of the six hostages, identified as Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino, were found underground in the city of Rafah and have been returned to Israel. According to Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the hostages were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists just moments before Israeli troops reached them.

Reacting to the grim news, President Isaac Herzog expressed the nation’s sorrow, stating, “The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces. I embrace their families with all my heart and apologise for failing to bring them home safely.”

The tragic deaths have intensified pressure on Netanyahu, who is facing calls both domestically and internationally to reach a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of the approximately 100 hostages still in captivity. Among those, dozens are believed to be dead, according to the Israeli military.

President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland added his voice to the international outcry, stating, “All of this killing must stop. Piling the dead upon the dead is a hopeless strategy when what is needed is an engagement with current and long-neglected issues that will enable life to be made possible for all in the region.” He further urged the international community to insist on the immediate release of all remaining hostages, an immediate ceasefire, and the provision of necessary aid to those in desperate need.

Taoiseach Simon Harris echoed the call for a ceasefire, describing the deaths as an “outrage” and urging both Hamas and the Israeli government to make peace a reality. “All remaining hostages should be returned to their families, and aid needs to flow freely to Gaza before the humanitarian catastrophe deepens,” he said.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin reiterated his demand for the immediate release of all hostages and stressed the need for a ceasefire. “These past 11 months have brought unspeakable death and suffering to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” Martin said. “It is past time for the killing and suffering on all sides to end.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his devastation and outrage over the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages who also held American citizenship. Biden has closely followed the fate of the hostages since their abduction on October 7, which marked the beginning of the conflict in Gaza.

The deaths of the hostages have fueled a sense of urgency in a region already engulfed in turmoil. The brutal conflict, sparked by Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on October 7, has since led to catastrophic loss of life.

1,200 people were killed in the initial attack, and Israel’s subsequent military offensive in Gaza has resulted in at least 40,691 Palestinian deaths and over 94,000 injuries, according to the enclave’s health ministry.

As the world watches, calls for peace grow louder, yet the path to resolution remains fraught with challenges. For the families of the lost and those still held captive, the agony continues, underscoring the urgent need for an end to the violence.