Israel confirms deaths of four more hostages in Gaza

Israel's military says it has established the deaths of four more people abducted by Hamas on 7 October.

It says the four were killed while together during an Israeli operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, adding that their bodies were still being held by the militants.

The men were named as British-Israeli Nadav Popplewell, 51, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, and Amiram Cooper, 85.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said intelligence gathered in recent weeks had led to the assessment.

"We assess that the four of them were killed while together in the area of Khan Younis during our operation there against Hamas," he said, without giving further details.

Last month Hamas claimed that Nadav Popplewell had died in an Israeli strike in April. The UK Foreign Office said it was investigating but there was no confirmation of his death until now.

Hamas released a video showing the other three men in December.

• Stories of the people taken from Israel

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

Hamas released 105 civilians during a week-long truce in November.

About 120 hostages remain unaccounted for. Israeli officials have said many are presumed dead.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack in October.

At least 36,470 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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