Overview
- Israeli forces received a coffin via the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza and transferred the remains to Israel’s national forensic institute for identification, which if confirmed would leave seven deceased hostages’ bodies still in Gaza.
- Hamas’ armed wing said the body was recovered in Gaza City’s Shujaiya after access was granted, following Sunday’s return of the remains of Col. Assaf Hamami, Capt. Omer Neutra and Sgt. Oz Daniel.
- Since the truce took effect on October 10, Hamas has released 20 living hostages and returned 20 deceased, with today’s handover expected to be the 21st, while Israel has transferred roughly 270 Palestinian bodies that Gaza authorities say are difficult to identify due to limited forensic capacity.
- U.S. officials are pressing Israel to allow an estimated 200 Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah tunnels to leave, but the prime minister’s office says there will be no safe passage, and reports say Hamas has linked further returns of remains to concessions on those fighters.
- The ceasefire has largely held despite incidents that both sides describe as violations, with Israel reporting three soldiers killed since it began and Gaza health officials reporting additional Palestinian fatalities.