Hamas has handed over three coffins it says contain the remains of Israeli hostages, according to the Israeli military. The handover, carried out through the Red Cross in Gaza, is part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The bodies have been transported to Israel for formal identification.
If confirmed, eight Israeli and foreign hostages would still remain unaccounted for in Gaza. Under the first stage of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to release 20 living and 28 deceased hostages.
Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the return of the bodies, while Hamas claims it is still searching for remains trapped under rubble from previous airstrikes. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said the bodies were discovered along a tunnel route in southern Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the families of the hostages had been informed and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to securing the return of every hostage. “Our hearts are with the families during this painful time. The effort will not stop until all are brought home,” his office said.
The exchange comes amid renewed tension, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. On Sunday, a reported Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza killed one man, whom Israel described as a militant posing a threat to its forces.
As part of the truce, Hamas released all remaining living Israeli hostages on 13 October in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israel has also returned 225 Palestinian bodies in exchange for 17 deceased hostages, including two foreigners.
The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 others, has left deep scars on both sides. According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 68,000 people have since been killed during Israel’s military campaign.
Efforts to sustain the fragile ceasefire continue, as families on both sides wait anxiously for closure and peace.