Hamas hands over the body of another captive to Israel

Israel received the body of a captive from the Red Cross in Gaza on Wednesday, according to the prime minister's office, in the latest handover to take place under a US-brokered ceasefire.

The captive's coffin was turned over to the Israeli military and internal security service, and "will be received with a military ceremony" before being sent to a national forensic centre for identification, the premier's office said in a statement.

"The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned," it added.

In a joint statement, the army and the Shin Bet security service later confirmed the remains had "crossed the border into the State of Israel", with the military urging the public to wait for official confirmation of the deceased's identity.

At the start of the truce last month, Hamas released all 20 surviving captives seized during its attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the Gaza war.

In exchange, Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in its custody.

Until Wednesday's handover, Hamas had returned 21 of the 28 deceased captives to Israel, including 19 Israelis, one Thai national and one Nepali.

Six bodies are thought to remain under the rubble in Gaza.

Israel has agreed to return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every dead captive it receives.

It has accused Hamas of dragging its feet in returning the bodies, while the Palestinian group says the process is slow because many are buried beneath Gaza's rubble.

(AFP and TNA staff)