Israel's military on Monday announced the deaths of four more hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas during its Oct. 7 surprise attack that sparked the latest Mideast war.
They were identified as Chaim Peri, 80, Yoram Metzger, 80, Amiram Cooper, 84, and Nadav Popplewell, 51.
New, unspecified intelligence led to confirmation of their deaths, which Israel believes occurred "a number of months ago" in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in televised remarks, Reuters reported.
Israeli forces were operating in the city at the time and the army is investigating whether they were accidentally killed by friendly fire, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
"We are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their deaths and checking all possibilities. We will present soon the findings, first to their families and then to the public," Hagari said. "We will present them with transparency, as we have done until now."
All four men were shown alive in hostage videos released by Hamas, which said Popplewell had died of wounds from an Israeli airstrike when it released a video of him last month.
Their deaths brought the number of slain hostages to 43, according to Haaretz.
More than 250 people were kidnapped by Hamas and about 120 remain Gaza, including dead bodies.
Peri was inside his house in Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas gunmen overran the compound and he reportedly surrendered to save his wife, who was hiding behind a sofa, according to Reuters.
Cooper and Metzger, also from Nir Oz, were kidnapped with their wives, Nurit Cooper and Tamar Metzger, who were freed during a cease-fire in November.
Popplewell and his mother, Channa Peri, were kidnapped from her home during an attack that killed his brother, Roi, according to Haaretz.
Channa Peri was also released during the November truce.
