US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke on Sunday with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a readout of the call that Austin and Gallant “discussed Israel's recovery of the remains of six hostages in Gaza murdered by Hamas, including the 23-year-old American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The Secretary passed along his deepest condolences to the families of all of the slain hostages, and he expressed outrage at their vicious, illegal, and immoral execution at the hands of Hamas.”
“The Secretary affirmed that Hamas leaders must be held accountable for their crimes. And Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant reaffirmed their mutual commitment to swiftly reaching a ceasefire deal to secure the release of all of the hostages,” added the statement.
Austin also conveyed his condolences for the three Israeli police officers who were murdered in Sunday’s terrorist attack at the Tarqumiya Checkpoint near Hebron, “and expressed his concern over rising tensions and increased terrorist activity there this week.”
The Defense Ministry said in a statement following the meeting that “Gallant briefed the Secretary on the IDF operation to retrieve the bodies of six hostages who were brutally murdered by Hamas, including one US citizen.”
“Minister Gallant emphasized Israel’s ongoing commitment to achieving an agreement for the release of hostages, while remaining determined to eliminate Hamas leadership and assets. In this regard, the Minister highlighted the important role of the United States in the negotiations,” the Defense Ministry said.
Gallant “also briefed the Secretary on the ongoing counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria following a number of terror attacks conducted against Israeli citizens and troops over the past weeks. This includes an attack that killed three police officers today. Minister Gallant emphasized Israel’s firm stance in combating and preventing terrorism on all fronts.”
“The Minister concluded the call by expressing his deep appreciation to Secretary Austin for his friendship and leadership at this time.”
The Health Ministry said on Sunday that the six hostages whose bodies were recovered on Saturday were murdered by Hamas terrorists by several gunshots at point-blank range.
According to forensic examinations by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, the six hostages are estimated to have been murdered in the 48 to 72 hours before the examination (on Thursday or early on Friday morning).
The Health Ministry said on Sunday that the six hostages whose bodies were recovered on Saturday were murdered by Hamas terrorists by several gunshots at point-blank range.
According to forensic examinations by the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, the six hostages are estimated to have been murdered in the 48 to 72 hours before the examination (on Thursday or early on Friday morning).
On Saturday night, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) located and recovered the bodies of hostages Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sergeant Ori Danino, from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area in the Gaza Strip and returned them to Israeli territory.
The six were abducted on October 7, 2023, and were murdered in the past two days by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
