Hamas Hands Over Remains of Israeli Captive During Truce

Hamas transferred the remains of another Israeli captive to Israeli authorities on Monday, the Israeli military said, as international mediators and Israeli officials press the group over delays during the Gaza ceasefire. The delivery is the 16th of the 28 bodies taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the coffin was received at the border and taken for a military ceremony and forensic examination. The statement added that all families had been notified and that efforts to return every captive would continue until the last one is home.

A Hamas official confirmed the remains were handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross for transfer to Israeli authorities. The move occurred amid calls from bereaved families and advocacy groups for Hamas to speed up its compliance with the ceasefire arrangements.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged Israel, the United States and mediators not to advance to the next stage of talks until Hamas releases all remaining captives. The group said Hamas knows where the deceased are held and noted that two weeks had passed since the agreed deadline while 13 individuals remained unreturned.

Hamas denied having precise knowledge of every location, saying widespread destruction from Israeli bombardment had hampered recovery operations. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement remained committed to completing the first phase of the ceasefire and accused Israel of seeking reasons to resume attacks.

The hostage crisis stems from the October 7, 2023 assault in which militants abducted 251 people and more than 1,200 civilians were killed. Israel launched a major military campaign in Gaza in response, with Hamas-run health ministry figures reporting over 68,000 deaths since then.

In a related development, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the lifting of the state of emergency in Gaza-border communities for the first time since 2023. Humanitarian agencies warn conditions in Gaza remain critical and have called for expanded access, as Israel continues to limit movement through the Rafah crossing.

Washington is reportedly drafting a plan to deploy an international security force made up of troops from Arab and Muslim countries to monitor the ceasefire. Israel has signalled opposition to Turkish participation, citing Ankara’s hostile rhetoric toward the Israeli government.

Egyptian teams and Red Cross personnel are working with Israeli authorities to search for remaining remains, while families continue to seek closure. Relatives and aid groups have urged both sides to prioritise humanitarian concerns above political disputes amid ongoing recovery and identification efforts.