Israel Has Received Remains of Gaza Hostage Belonging to One of the Two Last Captives, According to Red Cross.
The Israeli government said on Wednesday that it had received the remains of a deceased hostage from Hamas militants in Gaza, which were handed over via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The body was taken into custody by Israel's military and internal security service forces in the Gaza Strip before being transported to a forensic facility for identification.
The transfer of the coffin, which is believed to be that of one of the last two Israeli hostages held captive since October 7th, has sparked hopes among families of the hostages that they may soon receive news of their loved ones' fate. However, a military spokesperson refused to confirm whether the remains found belonged to Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer who died during a firefight in Gaza.
Gvili was one of three Israelis who were taken hostage by Hamas during a mass abduction of 31 workers from Israel on October 7th. The Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, who had been working at Kibbutz Beโeri and was among the hostages, is still being held captive in Gaza.
So far, Hamas has returned twenty living hostages to Israel, as well as the remains of 26 others, under a ceasefire deal that also requires Israel to release Palestinian bodies for every hostage returned. However, tensions between Israel and Hamas have persisted despite these efforts.
The Israeli government said on Wednesday that it had received the remains of a deceased hostage from Hamas militants in Gaza, which were handed over via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The body was taken into custody by Israel's military and internal security service forces in the Gaza Strip before being transported to a forensic facility for identification.
The transfer of the coffin, which is believed to be that of one of the last two Israeli hostages held captive since October 7th, has sparked hopes among families of the hostages that they may soon receive news of their loved ones' fate. However, a military spokesperson refused to confirm whether the remains found belonged to Ran Gvili, an Israeli police officer who died during a firefight in Gaza.
Gvili was one of three Israelis who were taken hostage by Hamas during a mass abduction of 31 workers from Israel on October 7th. The Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, who had been working at Kibbutz Beโeri and was among the hostages, is still being held captive in Gaza.
So far, Hamas has returned twenty living hostages to Israel, as well as the remains of 26 others, under a ceasefire deal that also requires Israel to release Palestinian bodies for every hostage returned. However, tensions between Israel and Hamas have persisted despite these efforts.