Four Hostages and a Paramedic Confirmed Dead Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that four Israelis taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 have been confirmed dead. Additionally, a paramedic who left his home to save lives has also been confirmed dead.

The families of hostages Nadav Popplewell, Yoram Metzger, Amiram Cooper, and Haim Perry were informed that they are "no longer alive" and that Hamas has their remains, the IDF stated.

"Our hearts go out to their families," IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. "We are sorry. We couldn’t save them in time."

Hostage and Paramedic Casualties

Hagari also announced the death of 35-year-old paramedic Dolev Yehud, who was killed on October 7. "He left his home to save lives," Hagari said, noting that Yehud is survived by his pregnant wife and their three children. "He was murdered by Hamas."

The IDF's decision to pronounce the four hostages dead was based on intelligence, Hagari explained. "We estimate that the four of them were killed together in the Khan Yunis area several months ago while being held by Hamas terrorists," Hagari said of Popplewell, Metzger, Cooper, and Perry.

Background and Recent Developments

Hagari did not specify how they died. However, in March, Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Ubaida announced that Perry, Metzger, and Cooper were among the seven hostages killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. Last month, Popplewell was seen in a propaganda video released by Hamas, Israeli media reported.

Popplewell, who was 51 and a dual Israeli-British citizen, had been taken captive with his mother from their home at the Nirim kibbutz. His brother, Roi Popplewell, was killed in the attack, according to Israeli media.

"Kibbutz Nirim announces with deep sorrow the death of abductee Nadav Popplewell in the captivity of Hamas in Gaza," the community said in a statement released Monday. Popplewell's elderly mother, Hanna Perry, was among a group of more than a dozen Israeli hostages who were released on November 24 as part of a temporary cease-fire deal.

Other Hostages

Metzger, who was 80 and lived in the Nir Oz kibbutz, was last seen alive in December in a video released by Hamas. At the time, his son Guy told NBC News that he was “really worried” about his father and that he seemed "very, very tired."

“He looks very sick, also his friends,” the younger Metzger said. “We are really worried about their condition.”

Perry, who was also 80, lived in the same kibbutz as Metzger. "Haim was a peace activist," Hagari said. "He believed, he fought, for coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Haim was a volunteer who used to transport sick children from Gaza to receive medical treatment in Israel."

Cooper, 85, was one of the founders of the Nir Oz kibbutz, Hagari said.

Identification and Remains

Yehud was initially believed to have been abducted by Hamas. However, after no indications that he was being held in Gaza, the Israelis rechecked the remains of the dead found at the Nir Oz kibbutz and identified Yehud's body, the IDF reported. His remains were identified by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Shura military base, the IDF said.

Current Hostage Situation

Some 125 Israeli hostages remain in captivity nearly eight months after they were abducted in a deadly surprise attack by Hamas that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

The deaths were announced as an Israeli cease-fire proposal backed by President Joe Biden was being challenged by right-wing ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, who oppose any deal with Hamas.