The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have revealed that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas during the recent prisoner exchange does not correspond to any individual on Israel’s official list of former hostages, intensifying tensions amid a delicate ceasefire.
Following forensic analysis conducted overnight, medical experts confirmed on Wednesday that among the four bodies returned on Tuesday, one remains unidentified and is not linked to any known hostage.
The IDF emphasized that Hamas must exert all possible efforts to return the remains of all deceased hostages.
This development has increased pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which is already grappling with mounting public dissatisfaction regarding its approach to hostage negotiations and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Since the ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect on Monday, Hamas has freed 20 surviving Israeli captives and handed over the bodies of eight individuals. These include six Israelis, one Nepalese citizen, and an eighth person whose identity has now been confirmed as not matching any former hostage.
Meanwhile, a Gaza hospital reported receiving the remains of 45 Palestinians returned by Israel as part of the same exchange arrangement.
The fact that one set of remains does not align with any of the 28 individuals officially recorded by Israel as deceased former hostages may harden public sentiment against making further concessions to Hamas.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the government was preparing to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Wednesday to permit limited humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, right-wing cabinet members have called for these plans to be halted.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reiterated demands to suspend aid deliveries unless Hamas returns the bodies of Israeli soldiers still held captive in Gaza.
“Humanitarian assistance must be halted until every one of our fallen soldiers is brought back home,” Ben Gvir stated, as reported by Israeli media outlets.
To date, two of the bodies returned by Hamas have been positively identified as Israeli soldiers.
