The body of British hostage Nadav Popplewell, 51, was found along with five others in a tunnel 30 feet below the surface in the Gaza city of Khan Younis by Israeli soldiers
A Brit hostage was found dead with execution-style gunshot wounds in a Hamas terror tunnel.
The body of Nadav Popplewell, 51, along with five others was recovered by the Israel Defence Forces on August 20 in Khan Younis, the Palestinian city that serves as the capital of the Gaza Strip. Israeli media has reported that soldiers were participating in a joint operation with Shin Bet, launched on precise intelligence, when they were discovered.
Officials believe captors may have fled in the wake of missile strikes with the hostages executed. Along with Mr Popplewell, the bodies of Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Yagev Buchstab and Avraham Munder were all found.
And they were reportedly discovered with execution-like gunshot wounds behind a false wall in a tunnel shaft that was around 30 feet below the surface, while four bodies, possibly of Hamas guards, were found nearby in Khan Younis.
Soldiers from the IDS entered the tunnel last Tuesday where they also found weapons belonging to Hamas. The group released a video in May saying Mr Popplewell, who was taken hostage during its October 7 attack on Israel, died after being wounded in an Israeli airstrike. It followed an earlier clip where he was shown with a black eye and confirming his name.
Mr Popplewell was captured with his mother from her home in Kibbutz Nirim, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. His brother was killed during the attack and mother was released during a temporary ceasefire in November. The campaign group described him as “generous and kind” and an avid reader of science fiction novels.
The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw another 250 taken hostage. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu are continuing to discuss efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict after the body of Mr Popplewell was found.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister started by expressing his sincere condolences to the Israeli people and the loved ones of the six hostages recovered in Gaza this morning, including British national Nadav Popplewell . The leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the Prime Minister welcomed Israel’s support for the American ‘bridging proposal’ and emphasised the need to move quickly.
“Regional de-escalation was in everyone’s interests, as the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides, the leaders agreed. The UK was steadfast in its support for Israel’s right to self defence, and would continue to work with partners to uphold regional security, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure greater access to detainees held by Israel, the increased delivery of aid to Gaza and to ensure international law was upheld at all times. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.”
