Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Red Cross transferred a coffin to Israeli forces in Gaza, and the remains were taken to Israel’s national forensic institute for identification.
- Israeli spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said authorities believe the remains are Hadar Goldin’s, though formal confirmation is pending.
- Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades claimed they found Goldin’s body in a Rafah tunnel, while the IDF had previously said it had no information indicating his body was located in such a tunnel.
- The handover is occurring under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework governing exchanges of hostages’ remains, with 23 sets returned before today; if confirmed, Goldin would be the 24th and four bodies would still remain in Gaza.
- In reciprocal steps reported by officials and medics, Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and transferred hundreds of Palestinian remains, about 300 of which Gaza authorities say have been received with 89 identified.