Overview
- Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said the remains have been identified as those of a Thai man handed over by Hamas on December 3.
- Only one hostage’s body remains in Gaza, identified in local reports as an Israeli male police officer, as Israel urges a swift handover.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer as part of the ceasefire-linked mechanism for returning hostages and remains.
- Israel announced it will reopen the Rafah crossing for departures from Gaza to Egypt only, while Egypt calls for two-way movement and operational details remain unclear.
- Despite a broadly holding ceasefire, Israeli forces reported five soldiers wounded in a clash near Rafah and carried out strikes in Khan Younis; Gaza health authorities report 360 deaths since the ceasefire took effect and more than 70,000 since October 2023.