Israeli military says bodies of six hostages recovered in Gaza

President Michael D Higgins called for an end to the killing, following the news of the hostages, describing it as a "hopeless strategy"

This combination of six undated photos shows hostages, from top left, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, from bottom left, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat, who were held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. Picture: The Hostages Families Forum via AP

The bodies of six hostages taken by Hamas have been recovered from Gaza, according to the Israel Defence Forces.

In a statement posted on X, the IDF said the bodies of Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Alexander Lobanov,33, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were found and recovered yesterday.