Overview
- Israel said the Red Cross delivered a coffin from Gaza that was confirmed to be Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, the last slain hostage with U.S. citizenship, reducing the outstanding bodies to seven.
- Hamas has now returned the remains of 21 deceased hostages and earlier freed all 20 living captives, while Israel has transferred about 270 Palestinian bodies under a 15-for-1 formula.
- Gaza’s Health Ministry reported receiving 45 additional Palestinian remains this week, bringing the total to 270, with fewer than half identified due to limited DNA testing capacity.
- The ceasefire has held despite strains from disputed handovers and intermittent violence, with Palestinian authorities reporting 239 deaths since the truce began and Israel acknowledging three soldiers killed.
- Israeli officials are debating how to handle an estimated pocket of up to 200 Hamas fighters isolated in Rafah tunnels as the United States urges steps that prevent a slide back into broader fighting.