The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday morning that they had recovered the bodies of six deceased hostages from the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza.
The hostages were named Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell and Haim Perry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the recovery effort, saying in a statement: "Our hearts ache for the terrible loss. The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages – both alive and dead."
The Hostages Families Forum, an organization that represents most hostage familiesi, welcomed the news but called on Netanyahu's government to conclude a hostage release deal with the militant group Hamas.
"The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal," the group said in a statement, although Israeli authorities believe about a third of those to already be dead.
"The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalize the deal currently on the table."
The recovery operation came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East for the ninth time in an attempt to negotiate a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries including US and Germany.
The war has killed around 40,000 Palestinians and driven over 2 million more from their homes.
