Europe Asia News

The Hamas movement yesterday handed over the bodies of three more hostages. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Red Cross received the coffins and delivered them to the Israeli army and the Shin Bet intelligence service in Gaza.

The bodies were taken to a forensic center to determine their identities and causes of death. Experts will inform the relatives of their findings. A Hamas military spokesperson said they found three bodies early yesterday morning in tunnels in southern Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the handover of the bodies shows how hard the movement is working to fulfill its commitments. At the time the ceasefire agreement was reached, Hamas forces were still holding 48 hostages in Gaza – 20 alive and 28 dead.

Since then, all the survivors have returned home, and the bodies of 17 people – 15 Israelis, one Thai, and one Nepali – have been delivered.

Although the Israeli government accuses Hamas of delaying the handover, the movement claims that finding bodies under the rubble of destroyed buildings and tunnels in Gaza is progressing slowly.

Hamas leaders have repeatedly asked mediators and the Red Cross for help in providing the necessary equipment and personnel to recover the bodies.