Israel Receives 16th Hostage Remains from Gaza as Forensic Identification Begins

Israel has confirmed the reception of a coffin containing the remains of a deceased hostage from the Gaza Strip, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The handover, which occurred inside Gaza to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) personnel, marks the 16th set of remains returned if confirmed by forensic identification. The coffin was subsequently transferred to Israel for a military ceremony and will undergo formal identification at the Health Ministry’s forensic center.

This development comes amidst ongoing tensions regarding the return of all hostages as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Officials stated that families have been updated, with the Israeli Prime Minister's Office vowing that the mission to return all hostages "will not cease until the last hostage is returned," as stated in the initial announcement. The agreement stipulated that Hamas return all 48 living and deceased hostages, but the return of bodies has faced delays.

Hamas, which handed over the remains, claims difficulties in locating all bodies due to extensive damage from the conflict, stating that some are buried under rubble. However, Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire terms by intentionally withholding bodies despite knowing their whereabouts. Prior to this latest handover, 13 deceased hostages were believed to still be held in Gaza.

The ICRC has acted as a neutral intermediary in these transfers, accompanying Hamas members in searches for remains in areas of Gaza. This process has involved Egyptian teams and has been closely supervised by the IDF. The return of deceased hostages remains a critical and sensitive issue in the broader context of the ceasefire, with international pressure, including from US President Donald Trump, urging Hamas to fulfill its obligations.