Hamas transfers remains of two Israeli hostages under ceasefire terms

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has transferred the remains of two Israeli hostages to International Red Cross representatives in the Gaza Strip, according to statements from Israeli military authorities. The handover occurred Saturday as part of ongoing implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the conflicting parties.

Transfer process

Israeli army officials confirmed that "two coffins of deceased hostages have been transferred into their custody and are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip." The statement indicated that Red Cross teams were responsible for transporting the remains from Hamas representatives to Israeli military personnel stationed within the territory. Israeli media outlet Channel 12 later reported that the military had formally received the two bodies.

Ceasefire context

This transfer represents the latest development in the phased ceasefire arrangement that has already seen Hamas release 20 living Israeli captives and return the remains of 13 others. In exchange, Israeli authorities have freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from detention facilities. The agreement, based on a US-proposed framework, also includes provisions for Gaza's reconstruction and eventual establishment of new governance structures.

Broader conflict background

The hostage exchanges occur amid a conflict that has resulted in significant casualties according to Gaza health authorities, who reported Saturday that the offensive has killed more than 68,100 people and injured approximately 170,200 others since hostilities escalated in October 2023. The ceasefire remains fragile as both sides continue implementation of the agreement's various provisions.