After two years of conflict, Hamas handed over the remains of another Israeli hostage to the Red Cross late Friday night, marking the tenth body returned this week under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The coffin, containing the unidentified remains, was escorted by Israel Defense Forces troops across the Gaza border, the IDF said on X. It is now at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for official identification.
Under the deal brokered in the early days of the ceasefire, Hamas is obliged to return 28 bodies. The group released 20 live hostages on Monday, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and paused its military operation launched after the October 7, 2023 attack.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his determination to secure the return of all hostages, and Israel’s defense minister warned that fighting could resume if Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments.
Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad called those threats "unacceptable pressure tactics." He noted the complexity of recovering remains under Gaza’s altered landscape but pledged, "We will return the bodies and adhere to the agreement as we promised."
Gaza’s civil defense agency, operating under Hamas authorities, said rescue teams have recovered more than 280 bodies from the rubble since the ceasefire took effect.
As families await confirmation and closure, the international community watches closely. Each transfer highlights the fragile balance between humanitarian needs and the broader push for lasting peace in the region.
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Hamas hands over body of one more Israeli hostage, vows to return rest
cgtn.com
