Israel has identified the bodies of six hostages found in a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip and brought them to Israel, the military said.
The army identified them as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi and Alexander Lobanov, all of whom were abducted during a music festival during the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The sixth hostage, Carmel Gat, was abducted from the nearby farming community of Be'eri.
"According to our initial estimation, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists a short time before we reached them," military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in a briefing.
Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the German government, the EU, the US and some Arab states.
Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin's ties to Germany
Among the six hostages found dead in the Gaza tunnel was Hersh Goldberg-Polin — an Israeli-American with ties to Germany.
An avid football fan of top-flight Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem, Goldberg-Polin had visited Hapoel's sister club, Werder Bremen, in Germany on numerous occasions.
Werder Bremen and several of its fan groups have played a key role in raising awareness of Goldberg-Polin's situation.
There's a longstanding friendship between Bremen's most famous fan group, the Infamous Youth, and Hapoel Jerusalem's fans, known as the Malcha Brigade.
Goldberg-Polin's family also spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month.
His parents wore the number 320 on stage, representing the number of days their son had been held.
Biden vows 'Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes'
Biden said he was "devastated and outraged" at the news of the bodies recovered from a tunnel in Gaza that included young Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Hamas militants took Goldberg-Polin hostage during October 7 attacks on Israel.
Goldberg-Polin went on to become one of the most well-known captives held by Hamas as his parents met with world leaders to campaign for his release, including Biden.
"He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world," Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. His parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, "have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable," Biden said.
"They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express," the president said.
Biden vowed that "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages."
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement: "I strongly condemn Hamas's continued brutality, and so must the entire world."
Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, said she and Biden would never waver in their commitment to free the Americans and all those held hostage in Gaza.
Family of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin's issues statement
The family of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin issued a statement after his body was discovered by Israeli military in Gaza along with the bodies of five other hostages.
"With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh," the statement read. "The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time."
Biden, who had met with Goldberg-Polin’s parents, said they "have been courageous, wise and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable."
Group representing hostage families express anger and anguish at news
Hostage Families Forum, a group representing the families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, issued a statement announcing the news.
"With deep sorrow, we once again announce the murder of 6 hostages. These 6 individuals were taken alive, endured the horrors of captivity, and were then coldly murdered," it said.
"A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses, those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It's time to bring our hostages home — the living for rehabilitation and the fallen and murdered for burial in their homelands," it said.
Families of hostages call for nationwide protests in Israel
An umbrella group representing the families of Israeli captives in Gaza called for a massive protest on Sunday.
The Hostages Families Forum called for a countrywide protest demanding a "complete halt of the country" to pressure the Israeli government to agree to a cease-fire deal and ensure the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza.
"A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses, those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It's time to bring our hostages home," it said.
"The Hostages Families Forum demands that Prime Minister Netanyahu address the nation and take responsibility for abandoning the hostages," it added.
About 250 people were captured by Hamas militants in the October 7 attack. A November deal resulted in the release of 105 hostages.
Before news broke about the bodies of hostages recovered in Gaza on Sunday, Israel said it believed some 108 captives were still held in Gaza. About one-third of them were believed to be dead.
Meanwhile, international mediators last month made another effort to bring about a deal in Gaza in return for the release of hostages.
Qatar, Egypt and the US presented a bridging proposal to close the gaps of disagreements between Israel and Hamas, but there was no concrete proposal to move forward with.
Hamas once again said there would be no deal on the table without a complete withdrawal of troops from Gaza.
