The extremist group Islamic Jihad announced on Monday that they had found the remains of a hostage, but the handover was not formalized until Tuesday afternoon.
Israel's patience began to wear thin when the last remnants were not handed over by Islamist groups in Gaza according to the ceasefire agreement.
To be identified
The Israeli Prime Minister confirmed through his office that the remains had been handed over – as per previous standards – to the Red Cross – which in turn brought the coffin with the remains to Israel.
The remains will now be autopsied and identified.
Remains of two who were taken hostage in attacks on Israel by terrorist group Hamas and other groups on October 7, 2023, are believed to remain in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced earlier in the day that Israel was taking the delay in handing over remains seriously, and that it constituted "a violation of the (ceasefire) agreement."
Two are waiting.
When the ceasefire in the Gaza war took effect on October 10, armed Palestinian groups were holding 20 live hostages and the remains of 28 who had died. As part of the US-brokered deal, the ruling Hamas group has released the 20 people who are alive and the remains of more than 20 of the dead.
In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, as well as the remains of several hundred Palestinians.
The exchange of hostages and prisoners is part of the first phase of the ceasefire. Mediators in the conflict announced after the handover that they had gathered in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
