The Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday that they had located “a number of bodies” in Gaza during combat operations. President Joe Biden stated that his staff was in contact with Israelis regarding the bodies found and emphasized the importance of identifying them before releasing any names to the public. Meanwhile, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “abandoning the abductees” and called for the country to prepare for action. The Forum claimed they would share more information the following day. Netanyahu is under pressure to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages and end the conflict in Gaza, where over 40,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military offensive. Some Israeli news outlets speculated that the bodies found may belong to hostages, as over 100 remain in Hamas custody. The hostages’ situation has caused anger and protests within Israeli society, with calls for Netanyahu to take action. The ongoing conflict has drawn international condemnation and isolated Netanyahu on the global stage. As this story develops, updates will be provided. Lawahez Jabari, Rebecca Cohen, and Sarah Dean are part of the team covering the situation, bringing reports from Tel Aviv and beyond.
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