Israel receives body of hostage from Gaza via Red Cross

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Israel on Friday received the body of a hostage from the Gaza Strip through the Red Cross, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the military said.

The coffin, escorted by Israeli troops, was brought into Israel and transferred to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

"Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages," the IDF added.

Earlier, Hamas said the body had been found in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Before Friday's handover, the group had returned the remains of 22 hostages under the current ceasefire, while the bodies of five Israelis and one Thai national were still being held.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Friday that efforts were continuing to complete the handover of the remaining bodies, despite "major challenges and complications.