Israeli Military Confirms One Body Returned by Hamas Not a Hostage Amid Fragile Ceasefire

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday as part of efforts to maintain the ceasefire arrangement.

The Israeli military announced Wednesday that one of the four bodies transferred by Hamas the previous day does not match any of the hostages held in Gaza, creating additional tension in the already fragile ceasefire agreement in the two-year conflict.

Hamas delivered four bodies on Tuesday following another four on Monday, coming after the release of the final 20 living hostages. Israel has been expecting the return of remains for 28 deceased hostages in total.

As part of the agreement, Israel released approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday and is also returning bodies of Palestinians, an action eagerly awaited by numerous Gaza families whose relatives disappeared during the conflict.

Following examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, military officials confirmed that the fourth body delivered did not correspond to any known hostage, with no immediate clarification on whose remains were transferred.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted Wednesday that Hamas must fulfill its obligations under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement regarding the return of hostages' remains, stating, "We will not compromise on this and will not stop our efforts until we return the last dead hostage."

The ceasefire plan, proposed by US President Trump, had established a Monday deadline for returning all hostages, both living and deceased. The agreement stipulated that if this timeline wasn't met, Hamas would provide information about deceased hostages and attempt to return all remains as quickly as possible.

This isn't the first instance of Hamas returning incorrect remains. During a previous ceasefire, the group claimed to have returned the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her children, causing additional distress when testing revealed one body was actually a Palestinian woman. Bibas's correctly identified remains were returned the following day.

Hamas representatives and the Red Cross have explained that recovering hostages' remains has been complicated by Gaza's extensive destruction. Hamas has informed truce mediators that some remains are located in areas currently controlled by Israeli forces.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem stated Wednesday via Telegram that the group was working to return hostage remains as agreed, while accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire through military actions in eastern Gaza City and Rafah.

Israel's defense minister Katz responded Wednesday that military operations remain within the deployment boundaries outlined in the agreement and warned that anyone approaching these lines would be targeted, referencing Tuesday's engagement with several militants.

Funeral ceremonies were scheduled Wednesday for two hostages whose remains were released from Gaza. One family invited public participation along the procession route from the forensics institute to a cemetery north of Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, forensic experts in Gaza began identifying 45 Palestinian bodies transferred by Israel through the Red Cross on Tuesday without identification. More transfers are expected, though the total number remains unspecified.

It remains unclear whether these are remains of individuals who died in Israeli detention or bodies taken from Gaza by Israeli forces during their search for hostage remains.

Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza were paused for two days due to Monday's prisoner and hostage exchanges and Tuesday's Jewish holiday.

The Egyptian Red Crescent announced Wednesday that 400 trucks carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies were destined for Gaza, as Israel and Hamas continue disputing the slow return of deceased hostages.

COGAT, the Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, informed aid organizations Tuesday that it would permit only half of the 600 daily aid trucks stipulated in the agreement. The organization declined to comment on Wednesday's expected delivery numbers.

On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of the final 20 living hostages from Gaza while Palestinians welcomed the release of approximately 2,000 prisoners and detainees during the ceasefire's initial phase.

Hostage families and supporters have expressed frustration over the limited number of deceased hostages being returned. Three of the four bodies in the second group were identified as Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi.

Baruch was taken from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that initiated the Gaza conflict. Nimrodi, who worked with the Israeli humanitarian aid oversight body, was captured at the Erez border crossing. According to the Hostages Family Forum, Levi was abducted while driving to Kibbutz Be'eri during the Hamas attack.