Red Cross receives remains of two Israeli hostages from Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross has received the remains of two additional Israeli hostages from Hamas in Gaza and initiated their transfer to Israeli military authorities. The Israeli army confirmed Wednesday evening that "two coffins of deceased hostages have been transferred into their custody" and are en route to Israeli defense and security forces operating within the Gaza Strip.

Ceasefire agreement implementation

Hamas had previously announced it would hand over the remains of two captives Wednesday evening as part of the ongoing ceasefire arrangement with Israel. This development represents continued implementation of the US-mediated agreement that commenced last Friday, building upon last week's exchange that saw 20 living Israeli hostages and 10 deceased captives returned in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli detention facilities.

Broader ceasefire framework

The current hostage remains transfer occurs within the framework of the ceasefire proposal initially presented by US President Donald Trump on September 29. The comprehensive agreement's initial phase included prisoner exchanges and temporary cessation of hostilities, with subsequent phases envisioning complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, establishment of new governance mechanisms excluding Hamas participation, and formation of an international stabilization force.

Humanitarian context

The hostage repatriation process unfolds against the backdrop of extensive Palestinian casualties numbering nearly 68,000 since October 2023, with Gaza's infrastructure largely rendered uninhabitable following months of intensive military operations. The ceasefire arrangement aims to establish conditions for addressing both immediate humanitarian concerns and longer-term political resolution for the territory.