Israel Confirms Return of Soldier's Remains Amid Ongoing Hostage Negotiations

Israel has confirmed that the remains of Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, 19, have been returned by Hamas via the Red Cross. The handover occurred on Tuesday as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump last month. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that, following the identification process, representatives informed the family of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen that their loved one had been returned to Israel and positively identified.

Staff Sgt. Chen was serving in the Israel Defense Forces' 7th Brigade when Hamas-led gunmen attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He was killed inside a tank during a battle in Kibbutz Nir Oz, and his body was taken to Gaza by Hamas.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the return, stating, "The remains of Itay Chen, a young American taken hostage by Hamas at just 19 years old, have finally returned home. We honor his life, mourn his loss, and stand with his family."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel welcomed the return but emphasized that seven deceased hostages remain in Gaza. They urged, "Please don't stop until they are all back home. Until the last hostage."

The Israeli government has accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of deceased hostages since the ceasefire took effect on October 10. Hamas has cited difficulties in locating bodies under rubble as the reason for the delays.

The slow progress has hindered the advancement of the second phase of President Trump's Gaza peace plan, which includes governance arrangements for Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli troops, disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction efforts. The U.S. has reportedly drafted a UN Security Council resolution proposing a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body in Gaza, known as the Board of Peace, and an International Stabilization Force (ISF). The ISF would work with Israel and Egypt to secure border areas, ensure the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, protect civilians, and train a new Palestinian police force. The draft has not yet been formally presented to other Security Council members for negotiations.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to return 20 living and 28 deceased hostages within 72 hours. All living Israeli hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Israel has returned the bodies of 270 Palestinians in exchange for the 18 Israeli hostages returned by Hamas before Tuesday, along with two foreign hostages—one Thai and one Nepalese. The bodies of another 15 Palestinians are expected to be returned to Gaza in exchange for Staff Sgt. Chen.

Of the seven deceased hostages still in Gaza, five are Israelis, one is Tanzanian, and one is Thai. All but one were among the 251 people abducted during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 other deaths. Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 68,800 people have been killed, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

On Tuesday, a hospital official in Gaza City reported that a man was killed by Israeli fire in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. The Israeli military stated that its troops killed a "terrorist" who had crossed the "Yellow Line," demarcating Israeli-controlled territory, and posed a threat to them.