'Israel' receives remains of four more captives from Hamas

The 'Israeli' military confirmed on Tuesday that the remains of four more captives handed over by Hamas were transferred from Gaza into 'Israel', following the identification of those returned a day earlier.

The coffins were first handed to the Red Cross before being brought across the border, part of ongoing efforts to implement a ceasefire aimed at ending more than two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“Four coffins of deceased hostages... crossed the border into the state of Israel a short while ago,” the military said, adding that the remains would undergo forensic testing.

On Monday, Hamas had already transferred the bodies of four captives, just hours after releasing the last 20 living captives under a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.

In a reciprocal move, a Gaza hospital reported receiving the bodies of 45 Palestinians returned by 'Israel' as part of the same agreement.

The four 'Israelis' returned on Monday were Guy Iluz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz, alongside Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi. Sharabi, 53 at the time of October 7, 2023, was taken from Kibbutz Beeri, while 22-year-old Peretz was killed on the day of October 7 and taken to Gaza.

Iluz, 26, had been attending the Nova music festival when he was captured. He later died from injuries sustained in captivity. His death was announced in December 2023.

Bipin Joshi, 22, was abducted from Kibbutz Alumim, where he had been training as part of a Nepalese agricultural program.

Joshi’s friend Himanchal Kattel, the group’s only survivor, recounted that Joshi had saved his life by throwing away a grenade before it exploded. His teacher, Sushil Neupane, described Joshi as “courageous.”

Meanwhile, the Nasser Medical Center in Gaza received 45 Palestinian bodies returned from 'Israel'. Under the ceasefire agreement, 'Israel' is to release 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased 'Israeli' returned.

“A big burden has been lifted, but the job is NOT DONE. THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase two begins right NOW!!!” Trump said on X.

The Palestinian resistance still holds the remains of 20 captives, expected to be returned under the ceasefire deal.