Red Cross Transfers Remains of Four Hostages from Gaza to Israel

The Israeli military has announced that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has received the remains of four Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip and is in the process of transferring them to Israeli defense forces. This move is part of the implementation of the current Gaza ceasefire agreement, which includes provisions for the return of both living and deceased captives.

The Handover Process

In an official statement, the Israeli army confirmed the transfer, noting that "four 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 ICRC, acting in its capacity as a neutral intermediary, retrieved the bodies from a designated location in northern Gaza, facilitating their return as outlined in the truce terms.

Context of the Ceasefire Agreement

This handover follows the initial phase of the US-brokered ceasefire, which began last Friday. Earlier this week, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages in a major prisoner exchange that saw nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli prisons. The return of the deceased individuals represents a further step in fulfilling the agreement's stipulations.

The Broader US-Backed Plan

The current exchanges are part of a larger multi-phase plan announced by US President Donald Trump. The first phase focused on the hostage-prisoner swap and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The subsequent phase, which is yet to commence, envisions the establishment of a new governing body in Gaza that excludes Hamas, the formation of a multinational force, and the eventual disarmament of the Palestinian group.