According to the Israel Defense Forces (Tzahal), the coffins containing the bodies were escorted by military personnel and agents from the Shin Bet, the country’s internal security service.
This Monday (13), the bodies of four Israeli hostages killed during captivity in Gazareported the Army of . The return was carried out through the Red Cross, as part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the and in force since last Friday. According to the Israel Defense Forces (Tzahal), the coffins containing the bodies were escorted by military personnel and agents from the Shin Bet, the country’s internal security service, to the National Center for Forensic Medicine, where the identification process will take place.
The Islamic group still holds the remains of another 24 hostages, who are also expected to be handed over to Israel in the next stages of the agreement. “Hamas must respect the agreement and take the necessary measures to return all dead hostages,” the Israeli army said in a statement. According to Israeli authorities, not all bodies should be returned immediately. If some are not located, an international organization provided for in the North American peace plan will assist in the search.
Hamas and allied groups kidnapped 251 people during the attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, which left 1,219 people dead, most of them civilians, according to official data compiled by AFP. In contrast, the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reported that 67,869 Palestinians have died in the Israeli military offensive since then. As part of the current ceasefire, Israel released 1,968 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the last 20 living hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
*With information from AFP
