Israel Receives Remains of Three Hostages from Gaza Amid Ceasefire

Israel has received the remains of three hostages from Gaza, with forensic examinations underway, as a month-old ceasefire continues to hold.

A Hamas statement indicated that the remains were discovered in a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 still believed to be in Gaza.

The Israeli military stated that official identification of the remains would be provided to the families first.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the remains of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen, were among those returned by Hamas. Neutra, a Long Island, New York native, served as a tank platoon commander in the Israel Defense Forces and was believed to have been killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that initiated the war.

"They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it's not too great," Trump said regarding Neutra's parents.

The ceasefire, mediated by the U.S., includes a 20-point plan featuring an international stabilization force and discussions on disarmament, governance, and humanitarian aid.

Israel and Hamas have also exchanged remains of deceased individuals. Israel returned 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for one Israeli hostage's body.

In Gaza, only 75 of the 225 returned Palestinian remains have been identified due to the lack of forensic resources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "there are still pockets of Hamas" in parts of Gaza controlled by Israeli forces, specifically mentioning Rafah and Khan Younis, and indicated that they would be eliminated.

The conflict, which began with the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage, has resulted in more than 68,800 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Israel has disputed the ministry's figures without providing a contradicting toll.