Israel has received the remains of what Hamas claims are three more deceased hostages from Gaza, marking another somber chapter in the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. The transfer, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is part of a continuing process aimed at returning the bodies of Israeli citizens who were taken captive or killed during the war in Gaza.
The remains have been sent to Israel’s national forensic laboratory for DNA testing and official identification. If confirmed, the discovery would mean that eight deceased hostages are still unaccounted for in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and other relevant agencies are now working to verify the identities of the individuals received, a process that is expected to take several days.
This development follows a similar transfer last Thursday, when Hamas handed over the bodies of two Israeli hostages: Amiram Cooper, aged 84, and Sahar Baruch, aged 25. Both had been confirmed deceased, and their return brought a brief moment of closure to their families after months of uncertainty. Earlier in the week, Hamas had delivered three additional sets of remains, but Israeli officials clarified that they did not match any of the missing hostages’ records.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to retrieving all remaining hostages and ensuring accountability for their deaths. He condemned Hamas’s actions as “pathetic attempts to deceive us, the United States, and the world,” emphasizing that Israel would not relent until every hostage living or deceased—was brought home.
Netanyahu also confirmed that Israeli forces continue to operate in Rafah and Khan Younis, two southern Gaza cities that remain focal points of military activity. According to the prime minister, the IDF is “systematically eliminating Hamas pockets” still present in those regions. Israeli officials have said these operations are targeted and aimed at dismantling the last remnants of Hamas’s military infrastructure.
The exchange of remains, while deeply emotional, also reflects the enduring human toll of the Gaza conflict. Hundreds of hostages were taken during the initial stages of the war, sparking outrage and international mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. While several living hostages were released through previous negotiations, progress has slowed, with Hamas and Israel blaming each other for the deadlock.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly urged both sides to prioritize humanitarian principles and allow neutral bodies like the Red Cross greater access to missing persons and prisoners. For families of the deceased hostages, each return brings both relief and renewed grief, as they finally receive confirmation but are forced to confront the painful reality of loss.
For Israel, receiving the remains of three more hostages from Gaza is both a moral and strategic milestone. It underscores the complexity of negotiating with Hamas while maintaining military pressure in Gaza. Israeli officials insist that the mission to recover all hostages alive or deceased remains a national priority.
Hamas, meanwhile, has continued to use hostage exchanges and body transfers as a political tool, attempting to exert pressure on Israel while appealing to international sympathy. As both sides brace for what could be another winter of tension, humanitarian agencies continue to call for restraint, transparency, and the safe return of every missing person.
In the words of Netanyahu, Israel “will gradually bring back all our hostages.” Yet the process is far from over. As long as bodies remain in Gaza and fighting continues, the anguish of families and the uncertainty surrounding the hostages’ fate will continue to weigh heavily on both nations.
