The delivery of four coffins by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza marked a new chapter in the ceasefire agreement with Israel. The bodies, which the Palestinian group says belong to hostages killed during the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, were received Tuesday by Israeli troops at a meeting point inside the city.
Escorted by the army and the National Security Agency (ISA), the coffins crossed the border into Israel and were taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Identification procedures will be carried out there, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in an official statement.
Red Cross and Hamas: Delivery of coffins to Gaza under international agreement
The ceremony was brief but laden with symbolism. The IDF inspected the coffins, draped them with Israeli flags, and a military rabbi officiated at the farewell. Although Hamas did not reveal the identity of the bodies, the Army urged caution and respect, assuring that the information would be communicated first to the families.
The gesture is part of a ceasefire agreement backed by international mediators, including US President Donald Trump. According to Hamas sources cited by AFP, the handover of between four and six bodies is expected as part of the first phase of the agreement.
Confirmed identities and captivity stories
During the day, Israel confirmed the identities of four hostages released on Monday: Guy Iluz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz. Iluz, 26, was kidnapped at the Nova festival and died due to lack of medical attention. Joshi, a Nepalese agricultural student, was captured at Kibbutz Alumim. According to witnesses, he managed to prevent an explosion that would have caused more deaths.
Sharabi, 53, was taken in Kibbutz Beeri. His wife, Nira, said: "We can put an end to the nightmare and give Yossi the burial he deserves." Peretz, a 22-year-old Israeli officer, died the same day as the attack, and his body was flown to Gaza.
The agreement is still in progress: more bodies and captives to be repatriated
The agreement provides for the return of 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased Israeli hostage. Nasser Hospital in Gaza confirmed receiving 45 Palestinian bodies. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned that 24 bodies remain in the hands of militants.
Trump, from his X account, was emphatic: “The dead have not been returned as promised! The second phase begins right now.” Netanyahu reaffirmed the Israeli government's commitment to bringing back all the hostages.
Aftermath of Captivity: Stories of the Freed
Twins Ziv and Gali Berman, released Monday, described spending weeks in isolation, with constant hunger and brief moments of relief. Beilinson Hospital and other medical centers reported that those released are suffering from physical and emotional after-effects, with recovery processes varying by case.
