Overview
- Forensic tests at Israel’s Abu Kabir Institute confirmed that three bodies handed over on Friday do not match any Israeli hostages.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer a day after Hamas returned the confirmed remains of Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper, as Israel sent back 30 Palestinian bodies.
- Israeli authorities say Hamas still holds the remains of 11 hostages and call the lapse a setback to the truce’s first phase, which required swift returns.
- Hamas said it had offered to provide samples instead of full bodies and requested heavy equipment to retrieve remains, stating it transferred the bodies to counter Israeli accusations.
- Egyptian teams with excavators have joined recovery efforts, and Israeli media reported officials expected the latest remains were likely not Israelis.