The Israeli military announced Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas during recent prisoner exchanges was not among the hostages previously identified as missing or deceased.
Following overnight forensic examinations on four sets of remains returned Tuesday, Israeli medical officials concluded that one “does not match any of the hostages,” the army said in a statement.
“Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages,” the military warned, emphasizing that full compliance with the terms of the U.S.-brokered truce was expected.
Under the ceasefire agreement mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, Hamas has so far returned 20 surviving Israeli hostages and eight bodies — six Israelis, one Nepalese, and one whose identity remains unknown.
Meanwhile, a hospital in Gaza confirmed that it had received the remains of 45 Palestinians handed back by Israel.
The revelation that one of the bodies does not belong to any of the 28 hostages on Israel’s official list is expected to heighten domestic pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Critics are already urging tighter restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza until Hamas provides clarity on the fate of the remaining captives.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, authorities were preparing to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Wednesday. However, hardline ministers have opposed the move. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reiterated his stance that “aid to Gaza must be halted immediately if Hamas fails to return the bodies of Israeli soldiers still held in the Strip.”
So far, Israeli officials have confirmed that two of the bodies handed over by Hamas were soldiers killed during the conflict.
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