Israel has taken possession of a body on Wednesday, identified by Hamas as one of the final two deceased hostages in Gaza. This development follows Israel’s commitment to open Gaza’s gateway to Egypt once all hostages are returned.
The body was handed over to the Israeli military by the Red Cross for forensic identification, as announced by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned an earlier militant attack that wounded five Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza and vowed a proportional response.
In response to the attack, Israel conducted an airstrike on a Hamas militant in southern Gaza later the same day. Earlier, Hamas had turned over remains which were confirmed not to belong to any hostage by Netanyahu’s office.
The transfer of the remaining two hostages’ bodies in Gaza is a crucial step in fulfilling a requirement of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to resolve the two-year Gaza conflict. This plan also includes the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in both directions.
Israel has maintained the closure of the crossing since the ceasefire in October, insisting on Hamas’s compliance with the agreement to return all hostages, living and deceased.
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al Quds Brigades reported finding a hostage body during a search in northern Gaza. The body was subsequently handed over to the Red Cross, without specifying which of the two remaining deceased hostages it belonged to.
Israeli military arm COGAT stated that the Rafah crossing’s reopening would be coordinated with Egypt under the supervision of a European Union mission, similar to a past ceasefire agreement in January 2025.
The Rafah crossing, a vital exit point for Palestinians in Gaza, has been mostly closed throughout the conflict, limiting access to medical care for thousands in need. Despite the ceasefire, sporadic violence continues between Israel and Gaza, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.
According to Gaza health authorities, over 350 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire, while Israeli authorities reported the deaths of three soldiers. The conflict originated from a Hamas-led attack in 2023, resulting in a significant loss of life and ongoing tensions in the region.