Politics Israel's Foreign Minister: Hamas will pay price for murder of hostages

Following the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has announced a tough response against Hamas.

"The terrorist organization Hamas has brutally executed six hostages in order to sow fear and attempt to divide Israeli society," Katz wrote on X. "Israel will respond with full force to this shameful crime. Hamas is responsible and will pay the full price."

The Israeli army had announced on Sunday morning that six hostage bodies had been discovered shortly beforehand in an underground tunnel in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to media reports, the Israeli health ministry said that the hostages had been shot at close range some 48 to 72 hours before the autopsy on the bodies. A Hamas spokesman, however, said that the hostages had been killed by Israeli bombardment.