Israel says it has received the body of a deceased hostage from Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said it received the remains from the militant group via the Red Cross.
A joint statement from the Israeli Defence Forces and the Israel Securities Authority said the coffin is being taken to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out.
Hamas said earlier on Tuesday that it had found the body of an Israeli soldier in Shejaia, an eastern suburb of Gaza City, in an area still occupied by Israeli forces. Israel’s statement did not indicate whether the remains were those of a soldier.
Hamas said the body was found after Israel granted teams from the militant group and the International Committee of the Red Cross access to the location.
Hamas militants and Red Cross members work at a site in Gaza City. Pic: Reuters
Ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Hamas had returned the remains of 20 hostages since the current ceasefire deal began on 10 October.
Under the deal, Hamas returned all 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians being held in Israel.
The militant group also promised to give Israel the remains of the dead hostages but said it would be difficult to find the bodies under the rubble in Gaza.
A Hamas militant stands next to heavy machinery moving covered human remains. Pic: Reuters
If genetic testing confirms the remains handed over on Tuesday, it would mean the bodies of seven other hostages are still in Gaza.
For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has released the remains of 15 Palestinians, handing over 270 bodies so far. Fewer than half have been identified.
A lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza complicates forensic work and the enclave’s health ministry posts photos of remains online in the hope families will recognise them.
October: Egypt team enters Gaza to find dead hostages
The US-brokered ceasefire has largely held though the violence has not stopped completely.
The Palestinian health authorities say Israeli strikes have killed 239 people since the truce took effect. Israel says three of its soldiers have been killed.
Earlier on Tuesday, health authorities in Gaza said Israeli fire had killed a man in northern Gaza. Israel’s military said it killed a “terrorist” who crossed into occupied areas and posed an imminent threat.
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The latest conflict began when Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in their cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip killed over 68,000 Palestinians, health officials in the enclave say. The figure does not break down the number of civilians and fighters.
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