Israel recovers body of British hostage Nadav Popplewell from Gaza along with five other Israeli captives weeks after it emerged the 51-year-old had been murdered by Hamas

Israel's military says it has recovered the body of British hostage Nadav Popplewell from Gaza, along with the bodies of five Israelis who have been held by Hamas since October 7. 

Nadav, originally from Wakefield near Leeds, was confirmed dead in June following an Israeli operation in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. 

His body was recovered overnight from the city by the IDF, alongside Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, and Haim Perry. Yoram and Haim were killed in the same Israeli military operation that Nadav died in. 

Last night's hostage rescue operation was conducted under the command of the IDF's 98th Division, and was carried out by the Paratroopers Brigade, 'Yahalom' Unit, and the 75th Battalion, along with Shin Bet forces.

In May, designated terror group Hamas released undated footage of the British man where he was visibly bruised. The video saw Popplewell state his name and age to the camera. 

Nadav Popplewell (pictured), originally from Wakefield near Leeds, was confirmed dead in June following an Israeli operation in Khan Younis

In May, designated terror group Hamas released undated footage of the British man where he was visibly bruised 

Popplewell was taken captive alongside his mother Channah Peri, 79, from their home in Nirim during Hamas' October 7 attack

Popplewell was taken captive alongside his mother Channah Peri, 79, from their home in Nirim during Hamas' October 7 attack. An FCDO source told MailOnline that the family are 'likely' to hold a funerary ceremony for him in Israel. 

His older brother Roi Popplewell, 54, was shot and killed by terrorists behind his home on the kibbutz that same day.

Peri was released in November during the temporary ceasefire deal.

The kibbutzim that Avraham Munder, whose body was recovered alongside Nadav, came from, Kibbutz Nir Oz, said that the 79-year-old had endured 'physical and mental torture for months' and called his death 'murder'. There was no immediate comment from his captors.

A spokesperson for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum which represents families of those who are still held by Hamas, told MailOnline: 'The recovery of the bodies of Abraham, Alex, Chaim, Yagev, Yoram, and Nadav crucially provides their families with necessary closure and grants eternal rest to the murdered.

'Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all the murdered for dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation. 

'The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal. The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalize the deal currently on the table.'

Hamas is still believed to be holding around 110 hostages captured in the October 7 attack. Israeli authorities estimate around a third of them are dead. 

The news of Popplewell's recovery comes as the US' top diplomat, Anthony Blinken, flew to Egypt to further ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. 

Blinken, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, will afterwards head to Qatar, which along with Egypt is brokering negotiations for a truce in the 10-month Gaza conflict. 

A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office told MailOnline: 'Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have been killed and all those who remain held captive.

'We continue to press for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages, which is why the Foreign Secretary visited Israel and the Palestinian territories last week.

There can be no further delays and we welcome international efforts to secure a deal to save lives, bring relief to the people of Gaza and de-escalate regional tensions.'