Israel received a body from Hamas on Wednesday, claiming it to be one of the last two deceased hostages in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the Red Cross had transferred the body to the Israeli military for forensic identification. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that five Israeli soldiers were injured in a militant attack in southern Gaza earlier that day and stated that Israel would retaliate accordingly.
Following the incident, Israel conducted an airstrike on a Hamas militant in southern Gaza as a response. On Tuesday, Hamas had also handed over remains, which were later confirmed not to belong to any hostage. The return of the remaining two hostages’ bodies in Gaza is a crucial step in fulfilling a condition of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year Gaza conflict, which includes the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in both directions.
The Rafah crossing, which has been closed since the ceasefire in October, is contingent upon Hamas fulfilling the agreement to return all hostages, living and deceased. The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Al Quds Brigades, announced the discovery of a hostage body in northern Gaza during a search operation with the Red Cross. The two remaining deceased hostages are identified as Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both kidnapped during an attack by Hamas on Israel in 2023.
COGAT, the Israeli military unit overseeing humanitarian affairs, stated that the reopening of the Rafah crossing would be coordinated with Egypt under the supervision of a European Union mission. The Rafah crossing, crucial for Palestinians in Gaza to access the outside world and aid, has been mostly closed throughout the conflict. Thousands of patients in Gaza require medical treatment outside the enclave, but access has been limited.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has continued to target Gaza and Hamas infrastructure, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. Health officials reported two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza City, which the Israeli military stated it would investigate. The conflict, which began with a deadly attack by Hamas-led militants in 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
