The six hostages who were killed in Rafah turned out to be Sinwar's “bodyguards”.

ITV Channel 12 reported the results of a journalistic investigation into the death of six Hamas hostages in the south of the Gaza Strip. The leader, Ihye Sinwar, held the hostages for 8 months, ensuring his own safety. DNA testing showed that Sinwar escaped from the tunnel several days before the IDF hostages were released.

The hostages were in an extremely malnourished state, as they were fed granola bars and oatmeal. They could not move at the proper speed, and Sinvar decided to flee, leaving them in a narrow tunnel.

Two Hamas terrorists, left behind as jailers, killed the hostages after the IDF invited them to surrender alive over a loudspeaker.