Israel’s military said, it has established the deaths of four more people abducted by Hamas on 7 October. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said the four were killed during an Israeli operation in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. He said that bodies were still being held by the militants. Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage during its attacks on southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities.

The group 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 to destroy Hamas in response to the cross-border attack.