Israel has taken possession of a body on Wednesday, identified by Hamas as one of the final two deceased hostages in Gaza. Concurrently, Israel has announced that it will permit the opening of Gaza’s passage to Egypt once all hostages have been returned.
The Red Cross has transferred the body to the Israeli military for forensic examination, as stated by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that an earlier militant assault wounded five Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza and vowed a proportional response.
Following the incident, Israel confirmed conducting an airstrike on a Hamas militant in southern Gaza as a retaliatory measure. In a separate development, Hamas handed over remains on Tuesday, which upon examination, were found not to belong to any hostage.
The completion of transferring the bodies of the last two hostages in Gaza would fulfill a crucial requirement of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to resolve the two-year Gaza conflict. This plan also involves the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in both directions.
Israel has maintained the closure of the crossing since the ceasefire commenced in October, insisting that Hamas comply with the agreement to repatriate all hostages, living and deceased. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian affirmed that the crossing would only reopen once all hostages are returned.
Since the ceasefire, Hamas has repatriated all 20 living hostages and 26 deceased bodies in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicts. However, two deceased captives, an Israeli police officer, and a Thai agricultural worker, remain in Gaza.
The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas-aligned Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reported discovering a hostage body during a search in northern Gaza, which was then transferred to the Red Cross. The groups did not specify which of the remaining deceased hostages they believed it to be.
Regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing, COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing humanitarian affairs, stated that coordination with Egypt, under EU supervision, would be similar to a previous ceasefire agreement in January 2025. However, there is currently no coordination between Egypt and Israel for the imminent reopening of the Rafah crossing.
Prior to the conflict, the Rafah crossing served as a crucial exit point for most Palestinians in Gaza and a vital entry point for aid. It has largely remained closed throughout the war, impacting at least 16,500 patients in Gaza requiring medical treatment outside the enclave.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to conduct strikes in Gaza, citing Hamas infrastructure as the target. Allegations of violating the ceasefire have been exchanged between Hamas and Israel. Health officials at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza reported two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire, with the Israeli military investigating the incident.
Since the ceasefire, over 350 Palestinians have been reported killed by Gaza health authorities, while Israeli authorities confirmed the deaths of three soldiers. The conflict in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led militants perpetrated an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in casualties and hostages.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll from Israel’s offensive in Gaza has surpassed 70,000, primarily civilians, as per recent reports.
