Hamas to transfer body of another Israeli hostage to Red Cross

The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has announced plans to hand over the body of another Israeli hostage to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The group stated on its official Telegram channel that the remains were recovered from the rubble in the Gaza Strip the previous day and would be transferred on October 20 at 20:00 local time (21:00 GMT+4), Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The handover is part of an ongoing exchange deal involving the release of Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

On October 13, Hamas and allied factions released 20 surviving Israeli hostages, in line with agreements aimed at promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza. Later that same day, the first four coffins containing the remains of hostages were delivered to Israeli authorities through ICRC mediation.

According to Israeli sources, a total of 13 coffins have been received from Gaza to date. Forensic examinations have confirmed the identities of 12 of the victims. However, Israeli officials believe that the remains of at least 16 hostages are still being held by Hamas within the Gaza Strip.

By Sabina Mammadli