Body of one of the last three hostages leaves Gaza for Israel

Hamas, Islamic Jihad hand over coffin said to carry the remains of one of the three last hostages held in the Gaza Strip after Israel warned that the failure to transfer the remains constituted a violation of the Gaza ceasefire.

By World Israel News Staff

A coffin is said to be carrying the remains of one of the three last hostages in the Gaza Strip was transferred to Israel via the International Committee of the Red Cross Tuesday afternoon.

At 4 p.m., a group of terrorists from the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations handed over a coffin to a Red Cross team.

Half an hour later, the IDF and Israel’s Shin Bet security agency confirmed that the coffin was in the Red Cross’ custody.

“According to information provided by the Red Cross, a coffin containing the remains of a fallen hostage has been transferred to its custody, and they are now on their way toward IDF forces inside the Gaza Strip.”

“Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and make all necessary efforts to return the bodies of the fallen hostages.”

Three hostages remain unaccounted for more than 25 months after the October 7 invasion, including two Israeli citizens – Dror Or and Ran Gvili – and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.

On Monday, Al Jazeera reported that Hamas, working with an Egyptian team and Red Cross officials, had located the remains of a hostage north of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.

The hostage had reportedly been previously held captive by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Later on Monday, Islamic Jihad confirmed that a hostage’s body had been found in Israeli-controlled territory, east of the Yellow Line.

When Islamic Jihad failed to return the remains Monday night or announce plans for the body’s transfer to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the terror group of “a further violation” of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

“In light of the Islamic Jihad’s announcement regarding the location of findings related to a deceased hostage, Israel views with severity the delay in their immediate transfer into its hands,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.