Israel alleges Hamas delivered an incorrect body

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The Israeli military has stated that one of the bodies handed over by the militant group is believed to be that of a Palestinian.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), one of the bodies that Hamas returned on Tuesday does not correspond to any of the captives previously held by the Palestinian armed group in Gaza.

Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday in return for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement facilitated by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. The group commenced handing over the remains of deceased captives to Israel on Tuesday, transferring seven bodies in two separate deliveries through the Red Cross.

Nevertheless, the IDF announced in a Wednesday statement on X that an analysis conducted at the Abu Kabir forensic institute confirmed one of the four bodies from the second shipment “does not belong to any of the hostages.” The military added that the remains are presumed to be those of a Palestinian individual.

The other three bodies, however, were confirmed to be those of the captives. The statement identified them as Staff Sergeant Tamir Nimrodi, 18; Uriel Baruch, 35; and Eitan Levy, 53.

“Hamas is obligated to exert all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages,” the Israeli military asserted.

Earlier that day, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stated that Israel “will not cease until we recover all [of the hostages]. This constitutes our moral, national, and Jewish obligation.” Hamas reportedly continues to hold the remains of 21 deceased captives.

Approximately 1,200 individuals lost their lives, and 250 others were taken captive during the Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023. The subsequent retaliatory airstrikes and ground offensive by the IDF in Gaza have resulted in over 67,000 fatalities and nearly 170,000 injuries, as reported by Palestinian health authorities.

This week has seen Palestinian refugees and Hamas combatants returning to Gaza City and other parts of the enclave following a partial withdrawal of IDF forces, consistent with the agreed deal. Reports also indicate intermittent clashes between Hamas and opposing factions within Gaza.