Hamas Didn’t Hand Over Body To Red Cross, Rather Findings Requested By Jerusalem: Israeli Officials

According to a report by The Times of Israel, Israeli officials say that an item being transferred by Hamas through the Red Cross is not the body of a hostage, but rather material requested by Israel to undergo examination.

The clarification follows media reports suggesting that another hostage’s remains were being handed over. According to an Israeli official, the transfer relates to “findings” discovered yesterday in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. The official says Israel asked that the items be delivered via the International Committee of the Red Cross so they could be inspected inside Israel.

The statement was issued after Al Jazeera reported that Hamas had provided the Red Cross with another hostage’s body. Israeli officials disputed that account, stating that the transfer does not involve a confirmed body.

Officials note that three bodies of hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza. It remains unclear whether the newly transferred items are connected to those cases. The nature of the material being sent to Israel has not yet been detailed publicly.

Earlier this month, Hamas transferred partial remains of three bodies following a request from Israel. Those remains were examined but were not identified as belonging to any of the hostages currently unaccounted for in Gaza. The officials did not specify whether the earlier findings yielded additional leads in the efforts to locate the hostages.

The involvement of the Red Cross in the current transfer follows established procedures for handling potential human remains or related forensic evidence during the conflict. Israeli authorities say the material will undergo further evaluation to determine its origin and any possible link to those still missing.

The situation comes as uncertainty continues over the fate of hostages whose whereabouts have not been verified. The Israeli official’s comments indicate that the current transfer is part of ongoing efforts to collect and assess information that could provide clarity on remaining unresolved cases.

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