Israel receives remains of four more hostages kidnapped by Hamas
Israel has received the remains of four more hostages who were killed and held by Hamas, following the return of 20 living hostages the previous day as part of a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.The International committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of these bodies to Israeli authorities. This latest handover adds to the eight bodies already returned by hamas.
The ICRC emphasized the importance of cooperation from all parties to ensure the return of remains to families and affirmed its role as a neutral intermediary in the process. Families of Israeli hostages have expressed concern about Hamas’s failure to return all 28 bodies, with reports indicating the group does not know the whereabouts of several remains.
In response to Hamas’s slow release of deceased hostages, Israel announced it would reduce humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza, cutting the number of aid trucks by half, and would delay reopening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel also returned 45 deceased Palestinians to Gaza in exchange for the hostages’ remains. Israeli authorities confirmed the four bodies crossed into Israel and are being processed for identification. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that efforts to recover all hostages continue and that the families have been kept informed.
Israel receives remains of four more hostages kidnapped by Hamas
Israel has received the bodies of four more dead hostages held by Hamas, one day after the 20 remaining living hostages returned home under a peace deal to end the war in Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced on Tuesday that the four bodies were transferred to Israeli authorities. These are in addition to the remains of four other hostages that Hamas handed over on Monday.
“We know that the families won’t give up on their loved ones, and neither will we — we are prepared to fulfill our role for as long as it takes, and as agreed by the parties,” Red Cross official Julien Lerisson said in a statement.
“It is the responsibility of the parties to search for, collect, and evacuate human remains. The parties must endeavor to facilitate the return of the remains of the deceased to their families,” he added. “The ICRC can fulfill its functions as a neutral intermediary only through the cooperation of all actors, and within the framework of the current agreement.”
Families of the Israeli hostages have raised concerns about Hamas’s failure to return all 28 bodies, despite returning 20 hostages by the Monday deadline under the peace agreement. The terrorist group does not know where some of the bodies are located, according to reports.
The latest hostage transfer was expected after Hamas said it would release four more bodies by 3 p.m. Eastern. Only 20 bodies remain in Gaza.
In exchange, Israel released 45 deceased Palestinians back to Gaza on Tuesday.
The Israeli military later confirmed that coffins carrying the four bodies had crossed Gaza’s border into Israel. Their remains were then taken to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, where they will be identified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the deceased hostages’ families have been updated upon their transfer.
“Our hearts are with them in this difficult hour,” the statement reads. “The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned.”
ISRAEL TO LIMIT GAZA AID CROSSINGS DUE TO HAMAS’S SLOW RELEASE OF DECEASED HOSTAGES
The news comes after the Israeli government said it would reduce the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas releases all dead hostages. Israel is planning to facilitate only 300 trucks full of aid into the Palestinian territory instead of the expected 600 trucks, Reuters reported.
The Jewish state also said it would not reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Wednesday in response to Hamas’s slow release of the deceased hostages.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
