Overview
- After forensic identification, the IDF informed the family of Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, 19, whose body was transferred from Gaza to Israel via the Red Cross.
- With Chen’s return, Hamas has handed over 21 of 28 deceased hostages initially listed as buried in Gaza, leaving seven bodies still to be recovered.
- Hamas said Chen’s remains were found in Gaza City’s Shejaia area after Israel allowed search access for its teams and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
- Under the exchange ratio, Israel has transferred roughly 270 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, where officials report slow identifications due to a shortage of DNA kits.
- The US-brokered ceasefire continues with intermittent incidents, and movement to later stages depends on completing the remaining returns of deceased hostages.