Civilians and Israeli security forces pay their respects as the convoy carrying the bodies of four hostages arrives at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, October 15, 2025. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)
The group’s inconsistent statements have fueled doubts in Israel about its motives.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Three bodies that may belong to Israeli hostages were handed over to Israel from Gaza late Sunday, in an operation coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The transfer took place around 9 p.m., about an hour later than Hamas had publicly announced, according to reports from Gaza.
The remains were received at the Kerem Shalom crossing before being transported to the L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for examination.
Hamas claimed that the remains of one of them was Col. Asaf Hamami, commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, and two other hostages Hamas claimed to have found earlier in the day. Hamami was killed in the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
Israeli authorities have not yet confirmed the identities. The latest transfer follows a series of disputed claims by Hamas regarding the discovery and return of hostage remains.
According to the report, Hamas accepted the proposed arrangement and was waiting for Israel’s response. Israeli officials, however, accused the group of trying to disguise the evacuation as a humanitarian operation while actually seeking to move hundreds of its fighters out of Rafah.
Security sources in Israel also said the timing of Hamas’ statements—particularly the release of one hostage’s name—appeared calculated. They believe the organization is using the recovery of the hostages’ bodies to pressure Israel into making political or military concessions.
On Friday, the terror group handed over partial remains to the Red Cross, but testing later revealed they were not those of any missing captives.
Over the weekend, Hamas said it had given Israel three body samples from “unidentified individuals” for testing but offered no information about where they were recovered or how they had been preserved.
The group’s inconsistent statements have fueled doubts in Israel about its motives.
Analysts suggest Hamas may be using the issue to maintain leverage in ongoing ceasefire and hostage-release talks. The conflicting information surrounding the remains has added to the frustration of families awaiting word on their missing relatives.
The Red Cross confirmed its involvement in the handover but declined to share details about the condition of the bodies or the logistics of the transfer.
Israeli forensic officials said the identification process is underway and that families will be notified once results are verified.
The exchange took place amid renewed diplomatic efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages and to facilitate the withdrawal of Hamas fighters from southern Gaza.
Winter said combat soldiers and reservists would receive the highest priority for state benefits.
The Trump administration is instead emphasizing economic pressure on Tehran in hopes of securing concessions…
Israel is rolling out autonomous drone fleets across cities in a new emergency response initiative,…
Katz: '80% want to emigrate. We check this constantly in polls.'
Turkey's presence within Syria may create another impediment to a Syria-Israel agreement.
For the past nearly three years, Jews everywhere have borne the brunt of the deep…