Funerals underway for 4 of 6 hostages brought back from Gaza

1 September 2024, 6:46 pm

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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. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP)

Funerals are now being held for four of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza overnight.

They are Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi and Alexander Lobanov.

At Sarusi’s funeral, his mother says: “You were sacrificed on the altar of defeating Hamas, of Rafah, of the Philadelphi Corridor. Enough, no more. Only a deal!”

His sister Shaked says: “My Almog. You held on for 11 months… I wanted so much for you to come back, raise a family, but it didn’t happen. Now you’re with Shahar, your love.” Shahar Gindi, 25, was murdered at the Supernova festival.

Eden Yerushalmi’s mother says at hEr funeral: “This isn’t how I imagined you’d end up. I wanted to get you alive… Sorry we couldn’t save you.”

At Ori Danino’s funeral, his brother Aharon says: “Your smile was the best thing that happened to me, and now it’s my nightmare. I see it everywhere and can’t stop crying.”

His aunt Eti says: “We ask your forgiveness for not doing enough.”