Israel recovers body of British hostage Nadav Popplewell from Gaza along with five other Israeli prisoners, weeks after it emerged the 51-year-old was killed by Hamas
- Nadav Popplewell was killed in June during an Israeli operation in Khan Younis
- The body of the Wakefield resident was recovered by the IDF last night
- His body was found along with the bodies of five other hostages
The Israeli military says it has recovered the body of British hostage Nadav Popplewell in Gaza, along with the bodies of five Israelis held by Hamas since October 7.
Nadav, originally from Wakefield near Leeds, was pronounced dead in June following an Israeli operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
His body was recovered from the city by the IDF at night, along with Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger and Haim Perry. Yoram and Haim were killed in the same Israeli military operation in which Nadav died.
Last night’s hostage rescue operation was carried out under the command of the Israeli army’s 98th Division and was carried out by the Paratrooper Brigade, the ‘Yahalom’ unit and the 75th Battalion, along with troops from the Shin Bet.
In May, the terrorist organization Hamas released undated images of the British man in which he was visibly bruised. In the video, Popplewell gave his name and age to the camera.
Nadav Popplewell (pictured), originally from Wakefield near Leeds, was pronounced dead in June following an Israeli operation in Khan Younis
In May, the terrorist organization Hamas released undated images of the British man in which he was visibly bruised
Popplewell was captured along with his mother Channah Peri, 79, from their home in Nirim during the Hamas attack on October 7
Popplewell was captured along with his mother Channah Peri, 79, from their home in Nirim during the Hamas attack on October 7.
His older brother Roi Popplewell, 54, was shot dead by terrorists behind his home on the kibbutz that same day.
Peri was released in November under the temporary ceasefire agreement.
The kibbutz where Avraham Munder, whose body was found with Nadav, came from, Kibbutz Nir Oz, said the 79-year-old had endured “months of physical and mental torture” and called his death “murder.” There was no immediate comment from his captors.
A spokesperson for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of those still held by Hamas, told MailOnline: ‘The recovery of the bodies of Abraham, Alex, Chaim, Yagev, Yoram and Nadav brings much-needed peace and eternal rest to the families of the victims.
‘Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all murdered persons for a dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation.
“The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal. The Israeli government, with the help of mediators, must make every effort to finalize the deal currently on the table.”
Hamas is believed to still be holding around 110 hostages captured in the October 7 attack. Israeli authorities estimate that around a third of them are dead.
News of Popplewell’s recovery comes as the top US diplomat, Anthony Blinken, flies to Egypt to resume ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Blinken, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, will then travel to Qatar, which is negotiating a ceasefire with Egypt in the 10-month conflict in Gaza.
MailOnline has contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment.
