Israel's military operation in southern Gaza may have led Hamas to kill six hostages

The Israeli military says an investigation suggests military operations in southern Gaza may have led to the killing of six hostages by Hamas in August.

The military said in a statement Tuesday that it had launched an investigation into the deaths and found that Israel's "ground activities in the area, while slow and cautious, had an indirect impact on the terrorists' decision to kill the six hostages."

"The hostages were shot by Hamas terrorists" while Israeli forces were operating in the Taylor Sudan area, the statement said.

At the end of August, the Israeli army found the remains of six hostages in a tunnel in southern Gaza. The army said they had been killed before soldiers arrived.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group responded to the military's statement by calling for action to bring back all the hostages.

The statement said: "Now is the time to bring back all the hostages. We need to reach an agreement that ensures the return of all hostages in a quick and scheduled time."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also said Tuesday that an Israeli delegation just returned from an "important" round of talks in Qatar aimed at securing a cease-fire and the release of dozens of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu told parliament Monday there had been "some progress" in the talks.

Israel and Hamas have held indirect talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States in Doha in recent days, rekindling hopes for a deal.