Israel has confirmed that the remains of three hostages handed over by Hamas have been identified, officials said on Monday. The bodies were transferred to Israel as part of ongoing negotiations mediated by international partners.
According to the Israeli military, forensic experts conducted tests confirming the identities of the victims, who were among those taken captive during the October conflict. Their names have not been made public pending notification of their families.
Israeli authorities said the remains were received over the weekend through coordinated efforts involving Egypt and Qatar. The handover took place at a border crossing, under heavy security and humanitarian supervision.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow over the discovery, vowing to continue efforts to bring every hostage home. “We will not rest until all are returned,” he said in a statement.
Hamas has not released details on how or when the captives died, but Israeli officials believe they were killed during earlier stages of the conflict. The group has reportedly offered limited cooperation in providing information about other missing persons.
The recovery of the bodies has reignited calls within Israel for renewed diplomatic and military efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages. Families of those still held captive continue to pressure the government for urgent action.
Also read: Powerful 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Afghanistan
