On Thursday, Israel stated that the Red Cross had confirmed it had taken possession of “two coffins containing deceased hostages” and these were en route to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF’s statement reiterated its demand for Hamas to release the remains of all deceased hostages.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel had reported receiving intelligence that the Red Cross was traveling to a designated meeting location in the central Gaza Strip to collect coffins believed to hold the remains of deceased hostages.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the coffins’ transit to Israel, noting, “All families of the hostages have been informed, and our thoughts are with them during this trying period. The endeavor to bring back our hostages continues relentlessly until every last one is home.”
Netanyahu’s office indicated it would furnish further updates “as required.”
Reports on Tuesday indicated that a coffin previously transferred to Israel was believed to contain the remains of a hostage whose burial had already occurred. These remains were subsequently identified as Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was initially found in 2023.
According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a portion of Tzarfati’s remains were returned in March 2024, and in August 2024, Hamas released an image of his body.
Tzarfati’s family issued a statement saying, “This marks the third instance we have had to unearth Ofir’s grave and reinter our son. The ‘circle’ seemingly concluded in December 2023, yet it never truly does. Ever since, we have endured a wound that perpetually resurfaces, caught between remembrance and yearning, sorrow and purpose.”
Should these two coffins indeed contain the remains of deceased hostages, an additional 11 sets of remains would still be unrecovered, potentially including those of two U.S. citizens, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. To date, Israel has recovered the remains of 15 out of 28 deceased hostages.
Those identified among the returned remains of hostages include Aryeh Zalmanovich, Master Sergeant (Res.) Tamir Adar, Staff Sgt. Tal Haimi, Suntaya Akrasi, Ronen Tommy Engel, Eliyahu Margalit, Uriel Baruch, Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, Eitan Levi, Daniel Peretz, Yossi Sharabi, Guy Illuz, Bipin Joshi, Inbar Hayman, and Sergeant Major Muhammad Al-Atresh.
This situation is evolving. Further updates will be provided as they become available.