JERUSALEM/GAZA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Wednesday received the remains of an unidentified hostage handed over by armed groups in the Gaza Strip through the Red Cross.
If confirmed, the remains would be one of the last two bodies still held in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades and Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades said they transferred the body to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Hamas said the remains had been recovered in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza by Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said the remains were handed to Israeli troops and Shin Bet agents inside Gaza and were being taken to the national forensic laboratory in Tel Aviv for identification.
Until Wednesday, the only two hostages whose bodies were still unrecovered were Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak. Both were seized during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which was followed by more than two years of Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Under the current cease-fire, which began Oct. 10, Hamas is required to release 20 living captives and the bodies of 28 dead hostages. All surviving captives were freed early in the truce. Israel, in return, has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of more than 300 Palestinians.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad say the recovery of bodies has been slow because many remain buried under rubble from Israeli airstrikes.
The latest handover comes as the sides discuss the second phase of the cease-fire agreement, which calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the dismantling of Palestinian armed groups. ■
