Israeli embassy in US honors memory of six hostages murdered in Gaza

The Israeli embassy in Washington observed Saturday the second yahrzeit of six hostages killed by Hamas in a Gaza tunnel in August 2024.

The six were Master Sgt. Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Eden Yerushalmi. All had been taken alive during the October 7, 2023 assault on the northwestern Negev.

The embassy marked the occasion with a statement: "Alongside our Shabbat candles, we light candles in their memory and carry their light forward. May their memories forever be a blessing, and may their light continue to shine."

The six were shot at close range in a 65-foot-deep tunnel in Rafah before Israeli troops could reach them. Their bodies bore gunshot wounds to the head and other areas, with evidence of being tied up and neglected over an extended period. Signs indicated they had sustained injuries during their kidnapping that were treated over time.

The hostages are believed to have been transported from northern Gaza to the south before being killed. The Israel Defense Forces recovered their bodies on September 1, 2024.