The armed wings of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have announced plans to return the body of an Israeli hostage. The transfer is scheduled for 20:00 local time on Thursday, but if it proceeds, three hostages will remain in captivity within the Gaza Strip.
Islamic Jihad stated that the body was recovered in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the enclave. While the identity of the deceased has not been specified, past instances have seen bodies examined by the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv. The militants aim to return the body to the Red Cross, which will subsequently hand it over to the Israeli army for transfer out of Gaza.
An Israeli government spokesperson indicated on Thursday that Israel was not aware of any planned return. This development follows an agreement reached in October, which facilitated the release of all 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees. The ceasefire deal also stipulated the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 militants.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in the region, following the violent escalation that began with the attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the current conflict in Gaza. As negotiations and humanitarian considerations continue, the situation remains fluid, with significant implications for all parties involved.
