The remains of an Israeli hostage have been transferred to Red Cross custody in Gaza on Tuesday, the IDF announced, as part of an ongoing effort to repatriate deceased hostages. This transfer of the remains, housed within a coffin, marked a significant step in the process of returning the remains to Israeli forces, where further identification will take place. The statement from the IDF emphasized that the Red Cross is on its way to the meeting point in the central Gaza Strip and that the remains will be transferred into their custody.
In its official remarks, the IDF highlighted the need for Hamas to fulfill its obligations under the agreement to return all the deceased hostages. The statement also reminded the public to act with sensitivity and await the official identification, which will be provided to the families first. The statement further noted that the IDF was coordinating with the Red Cross to ensure that the remains are safely received and processed.
Before this latest development, three deceased hostages who were known to still be in Hamas custody included Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43. Gvili, a former police officer, had been recovering from a motorcycle injury when he joined the response to an attack on Oct. 7, 2023, during which he was killed. Dror Or, a father of three, was killed along with his wife, Yonat Or, while protecting their two children on Oct. 7. His children were later released during the ceasefire. Sudthisak Rinthalak was a Thai worker killed during the attack on a kibbutz, with the Thai government stating that at least 46 of its citizens were killed in the conflict.
These recent developments were further contextualized by the latest meeting between President Donald Trump and 17 surviving hostages and their families at the White House. Trump presented each survivor with a Presidential Challenge Coin, expressing his admiration for their resilience and courage. His statement,