Israel Receives Body Of A Hostage From Hamas, Says IDF | World News

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Saturday the receipt of a coffin containing the body of a deceased Hamas hostage, transported to the Gaza border via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of the ongoing implementation of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

The IDF stated in a post about X that the body would undergo official identification at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv.

“The coffin of the deceased hostage, accompanied by Israeli Armed Forces troops, recently crossed the border into the State of Israel and is on its way to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out,” the IDF said in the post. The statement was included.

IDF officials stated that representatives are currently accompanying the families of the hostages and called on the public to exercise restraint and wait for official identification.

“IDF calls on the public to act sensitively and wait for the official identification, which will first be communicated to the families of the deceased hostages,” the statement said. expressions were used.

In an earlier update, the IDF had stated that the transfer was facilitated by the Red Cross and reiterated its demand that Hamas fully comply with ongoing agreements on the return of all hostages.

“According to information provided by the Red Cross, the coffin of a deceased hostage has been handed over to IDF units in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must comply with the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all hostages,” the IDF said in a separate post. he said.

Hamas confirmed that it handed over the body to Red Cross personnel, CNN reported. Hazem Kasım, spokesman for the terrorist organization, said in a statement that the group “will continue to work to complete the entire change process.”

According to CNN, Hamas had returned the remains of nine of the 28 hostages confirmed to be held in Gaza before Friday’s transfer.

Hamas claims to have handed over all the bodies it could find. But Israeli intelligence believes Hamas may still be hiding the locations of some of the dead hostages and has the opportunity to return more remains, according to two Israeli officials familiar with the situation, CNN reported.

Early Monday, all 20 surviving hostages returned to Israel.

According to the Israeli government, the hostages are identified as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Gali, Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Guy Gilboa-Dallal were safely removed from the Gaza Strip by special Israeli forces after being transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross.

Monday marked the end of the two-year war that began on October 7, 2023. According to Al Jazeera, Hamas’ attacks have led to the deaths of 1,139 people and the kidnapping of nearly 200 people.

Meanwhile, since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in at least 67,913 deaths and 170,134 injuries, Al Jazeera reported.