In a significant development concerning the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, the Israeli Prime Minister's office confirmed on Tuesday the reception of a coffin, delivered via the Red Cross, which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) assert contains the remains of one of the three Israeli hostages still unaccounted for after their deaths in Gaza.
Hostage Remains Transferred for Identification
The remains are now being transported to Israel's National Centre of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, where forensic experts will undertake the critical task of official identification. This transfer follows an earlier announcement by both PIJ and Hamas on Monday, stating that the body of a deceased Israeli hostage had been discovered in central Gaza.
Prior to the handover, the Israeli Prime Minister's office had expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the delay in the immediate transfer of the remains. It characterized this delay as a "further violation" of the six-week-old Gaza ceasefire agreement. Upon receiving the coffin in central Gaza on Tuesday afternoon, the office confirmed that the families of the three deceased hostages had been updated. "Our hearts are with them in this difficult hour," the statement conveyed, reaffirming Israel's unwavering commitment: "The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned."
Ceasefire Agreement and Ongoing Challenges
This incident unfolds within the complex framework of the US-brokered ceasefire deal, which commenced on October 10. The agreement's initial phase stipulated that Hamas would release 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages within 72 hours. While all living hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza, the recovery of all deceased hostages has faced persistent obstacles.
To date, the remains of 22 deceased Israeli hostages have been returned, alongside those of three foreign hostages—specifically, one Thai, one Nepalese, and one Tanzanian national. In reciprocity, Israel has handed over the bodies of 330 Palestinians killed during the conflict.
The Remaining Hostages and Stalemate
Among the three deceased hostages whose bodies were still awaiting recovery, two are Israelis: Ran Gvili, 24, and Dror Or, 48. The third is Thai national Suthisak Rintalak, 43. The process has been marred by accusations from Israel, alleging that Hamas is deliberately delaying the recovery of the bodies. Conversely, Hamas maintains that locating these remains beneath extensive rubble presents significant logistical challenges.
This slow progress has effectively stalled any advancement on the second phase of President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. This subsequent phase is intended to address crucial aspects such as the future governance of Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas, and comprehensive reconstruction efforts for the devastated territory.
Broader Conflict Context
The individuals who tragically lost their lives and whose bodies remain to be returned were among the 251 people abducted during the devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That assault also resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 other people. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has led to a profound humanitarian crisis, with more than 69,770 fatalities reported by the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
