Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages from Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The bodies were identified as Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, and Itzhak Gelerenter, who were reportedly killed on October 7 and subsequently taken to Gaza. The IDF stated that the remains were found in a Hamas tunnel.

This follows a deadly incursion on October 7, where Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and took 252 hostages back to Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the news "heartbreaking."

"We will bring back all our hostages, both the living and the dead," he said.

The IDF announced that the bodies were recovered during an overnight operation, based on intelligence from the interrogation of captured militants.

The three victims were killed near the site of the Nova festival massacre in southern Israel, which claimed over 360 lives. Around 125 hostages remain unaccounted for, while others have been released or rescued.

The Hostages Family Forum, a group representing relatives of those held captive, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of Shani Louk, Itzik Gelernter, and Amit Buskila, saying, "May their memories be a blessing."

In November, an agreement led to Hamas releasing 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long truce and the release of nearly 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

The status of the remaining unaccounted-for hostages is unclear.

In response to the October 7 attacks, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 35,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The United Nations reports that around 2.2 million Palestinians are in urgent need of food, shelter, and other assistance.

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