Israel announced on Monday that the Red Cross handed over the body of another deceased hostage from Gaza to the Israeli military, the Israeli prime ministerās office said in a statement. This delivery marks a critical step in a fraught recovery process that has left families waiting for answers.
If the identity of the newly returned remains is confirmed, Israel will still have 12 hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza. Hamas has pointed to the dangerous landscapeārubble and collapsed buildingsāas the main barrier to retrieving those who perished.
Earlier Monday, Hamasās armed wing said it had located and would transfer the remains of a hostage found amid the ruins. Yet each handover underscores broader challenges: U.S. President Donald Trumpās Gaza peace plan has stumbled over the issue of recovering the deceased, complicating diplomatic efforts.
An Israeli government spokesperson insisted on Sunday that Hamas knows where the remaining bodies lie. To aid the search, Israel granted an Egyptian technical team entry alongside Red Cross experts. Equipped with excavators and trucks, this joint mission is set to cross the so-called yellow lineāwhere Israeli troops initially pulled back under Trumpās proposalāto comb through contested zones.
With international pressure mounting, this latest handover shines a light on the human cost of prolonged conflict and the delicate coordination needed among non-state groups, nation-states, and humanitarian actors. For a younger, globally minded audience, these developments offer a window into how data-driven operations and international cooperation can bring closure to families caught in the crossfire.
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Israel receives body of another deceased hostage held in Gaza
cgtn.com
