The remains of an Israeli hostage have been transferred to Red Cross custody and will soon be turned over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced Tuesday. According to a statement from the IDF, the Red Cross is traveling to the central Gaza Strip, where it will take custody of a coffin containing the remains of a deceased hostage. The IDF also noted that Hamas has a responsibility to adhere to the agreements and take the necessary steps to return all deceased hostages.
Israeli officials later provided an update, confirming that the remains had been received. A joint statement from the IDF and Israel Security Agency said the coffin of the deceased hostage, escorted by IDF troops, crossed the border into the State of Israel and is on its way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out. This process is expected to take several days before the remains can be formally identified and returned to the families.
Before Tuesday’s announcement, three deceased hostages were known to still be in Hamas’ custody: Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43. Gvili, who was recovering from a motorcycle injury on October 7, 2023, still chose to respond to the attack and help people escape from the Nova music festival. He was subsequently killed in the conflict and his body was taken to Gaza. Dror Or, a father of three, was killed alongside his wife, Yonat Or, while protecting their two children on October 7. The two children, Noam and Alma, were later released during the November 2023 ceasefire. Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai worker employed at a kibbutz under attack, is one of 31 Thai workers kidnapped during the conflict. The Thai government has reported at least 46 of its citizens were killed in the Gaza war.
The latest release comes less than a week after President Donald Trump met with 17 surviving Israeli hostages and their loved ones at the White House. Trump gave each of the 17 survivors a Presidential Challenge Coin and acknowledged their bravery. He stated, “You’re not a hostage anymore, today you’re heroes,” highlighting the emotional and political significance of their return.
The ongoing efforts to recover hostages and provide closure to families remain a central issue in the conflict, underscoring the complex interplay of humanitarian, military, and political factors in the region.