Israel confirms receipt of presumed remains of Gaza hostage

On Wednesday, Israeli authorities announced that they had received what are believed to be the remains of a hostage from Gaza, delivered by the Red Cross. The remains were being transported to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine for identification.

The announcement comes amid a fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, between Israel and Hamas, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The initial phase of the agreement, effective since October, required Palestinian militants to release all 48 hostages, 20 of whom were still alive at the time.

So far, all hostages except for the remains of twoIsraeli Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalakhave been returned. Israel has criticized Hamas for delaying the handover of the deceased.

"Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffin of a deceased hostage, which was delivered to army and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip," the Prime Minister's office stated. The army added that the coffin had crossed into Israel and was en route to the forensic institute for identification.

The military did not confirm whether the remains belong to one of the last two hostages. Netanyahus office said authorities are maintaining "continuous contact" with the families.

Israeli police reported that they were escorting the coffin "with reverence" to the forensic center. Prior to the Israeli announcement, a Hamas official told AFP that armed groups had discovered remains "possibly those of an Israeli hostage" under rubble in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. AFP footage showed masked militants moving a stretcher covered with a white body bag while crews cleared rubble.

Earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu's office stated that forensic tests indicated that remains recovered from Gaza the previous day were "not linked" to the final two deceased hostages. Hamas has cited challenges in locating bodies amid extensive rubble left by the two-year conflict.

Despite the ceasefire beginning on October 10, the Gaza Strip continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis. Under the first phase of the deal, militants have returned the 20 living hostages and the remains of 26 of the 28 deceased. Israel, in turn, has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned hundreds of Palestinian bodies.

The hostages were taken during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war that claimed 1,221 Israeli lives. Israels retaliatory strikes in Gaza have resulted in at least 70,117 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry, figures recognized by the UN. Since the ceasefire, 360 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have died from ongoing hostilities.

Author: Olivia Parker