The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday that four hostages—Haim Perry, Amiram Cooper, Nadav Popplewell and Yoram Metzger—were killed months ago after they were abducted on October 7 and taken as hostages of Hamas in Gaza. The bodies of the four hostages are held in captivity by Hamas.

According to the IDF, the four hostages were killed as hostages during an operation against Hamas in Khan Yunis, Gaza. The IDF wrote:

Hamas is holding women, children, the sick and the elderly hostage in Gaza. We will keep on doing everything we need for their freedom … This is what any other decent country in the world would do.

Bring Them Home Now, a forum of the families and friends of abductees held hostage by Hamas, urged Israel to “send out a negotiating delegation [on Tuesday evening] and return all 124 hostages, both living and murdered, to their homes.”

This comes after Israel concluded on April 5 after a weeks-long investigation into the alleged deaths of multiple hostages held by Hamas via friendly fire that it is likely that at least one hostage was killed by an Israeli helicopter. Air Force Major General Tomer Bar stated that the IDF did not believe the helicopter crew was at fault due to the complications of armed conflict. Previously in December 2023, the IDF mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages: Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shamriz. The deaths led to mass protests from the Israeli public and the families of other hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.