Hostage Remains Handover and Identification Efforts
Israel has received a coffin through the Red Cross, which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) assert contains the body of one of two remaining deceased hostages in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed the reception.
Identification Process
The remains will be transferred to Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for formal identification. This handover follows an earlier event where remains received from Hamas on Tuesday were determined not to belong to either of the two deceased hostages, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.
The two individuals whose bodies are believed to be in Gaza are Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer, and Suthisak Rintalak, a 43-year-old Thai agricultural worker. Both Israeli and Thai authorities have stated that these individuals were killed during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and their bodies were subsequently taken to Gaza.
Context of Hostage Exchange
Under the initial phase of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which became effective on October 10, Hamas committed to releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages within 72 hours. All living hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.
To date, the remains of 23 deceased Israeli hostages and three foreign hostages (one Thai, one Nepalese, and one Tanzanian) have been returned. In return, Israel has handed over the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed during the conflict.
Statements on Delays and Peace Plan
Israel has stated that Hamas is delaying the recovery of hostage bodies. Conversely, Hamas has stated that it faces difficulties in locating the bodies under rubble.
The pace of progress on these exchanges has affected advancement to the second phase of President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan. This phase is intended to address the governance of Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Broader Conflict Context
The two deceased hostages still reportedly in Gaza were among 251 individuals abducted by Hamas and its allies during the October 7, 2023, attacks, which also resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Israel initiated a military campaign in Gaza in response to these attacks. The Hamas-run health ministry in the territory reports that over 70,100 people have been killed during this campaign.