Israel preparing to receive possible hostage remains

Palestinian militant group Hamas said it would hand over the remains of one of the last two hostages still in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that its forces had received what it described as “findings” that will be taken to Israel for forensic testing.

The two remaining hostages are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai citizen Sudthisak Rinthalak, who were kidnapped during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The Red Cross acted as an intermediary between militant groups and Israel throughout the war triggered by the Hamas offensive, facilitating the release of hostages and the handover of bodies.

Earlier, an Israeli airstrike killed a Palestinian man, identified by local health officials as freelance journalist Mahmoud Wadi, in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Wadi was involved in Hamas’ October 2023 attack, a senior Israeli military official told Reuters, citing the photographs.

Reuters could not immediately independently verify the official’s account.

Gaza officials said that a Palestinian journalist was also injured in the Israeli attack.

Violence has decreased since the October 10 ceasefire, but Israel has continued to attack the Gaza Strip and carry out demolitions of what it claims is Hamas infrastructure.

Hamas and Israel are accused of violating the US-backed agreement.

Gaza health officials say at least 357 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

Israeli officials said that Palestinian militants killed three Israeli soldiers this time.