Key Takeaways
- Israel confirms remains returned by Hamas do not match any deceased hostages
- Forensic tests show bodies don’t belong to 11 hostages still held in Gaza
- Identities of the three individuals remain unknown
- Hamas has returned 17 sets of remains since ceasefire began
Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of three people handed over by Hamas on Friday do not match any of the deceased hostages still held in Gaza. Forensic examination concluded the bodies don’t belong to the 11 hostages remaining in captivity.
“The remains we received are not our hostages,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated after the examination. The identities of the three individuals and the reason for their transfer remain unclear.
Ceasefire Returns and Previous Cases
Since the US-brokered ceasefire began earlier this month, Hamas has returned 17 sets of hostage remains. This isn’t the first instance where Israel has claimed received remains didn’t match missing hostages. Hamas previously returned additional remains belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was first recovered in 2023.
Red Cross Clarifies Role
The International Committee of the Red Cross clarified its limited role in the process. “We do not take part in locating the remains,” the organization stated, emphasizing that under international humanitarian law, parties to the conflict bear responsibility for searching, collecting and returning the dead.
Recent Hostage Returns
On Thursday, Israel received the remains of two hostages: Amiram Cooper, 84, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and Sahar Baruch, 25, from Kibbutz Be’eri. Israeli intelligence suggests Cooper was alive when taken during the October 7 attacks but was likely killed in February 2024.
Baruch was estimated to have been murdered on December 8, 2023. Both leave behind grieving families – Cooper survived by his wife, four children and 11 grandchildren; Baruch by his parents and two siblings.
Remaining Deceased Hostages
The 11 deceased hostages still in Gaza include American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, along with Meny Godard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Asaf Hamami, Joshua Loitu Mollel, Dror Or, Oz Daniel, Lior Rudaeff and Sudthisak Rinthalak.
