Israel completes identification of three returned hostage bodies PHOTO

The National Center for Forensic Medicine of Israel has completed the identification of three hostages whose bodies were returned to Israel last night, the Israel Defense Forces said.

"Following the completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the families of Colonel Assaf Hamami, Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel that they have been returned for burial," Caliber.Az quotes the IDF as saying in a press statement.

The three men, all in their 20s and 30s, were among the highest-ranking military personnel taken captive on October 7. Their deaths were confirmed by IDF intelligence in late 2024, but their remains had been withheld by Hamas until now.

The bodies were transferred via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the Kerem Shalom crossing around 10:00 p.m. local time on November 2, as part of the extended humanitarian pause in Gaza, now in its 11th day.

This marks the eighth set of remains returned since the ceasefire began on October 20, 2025, following intense Qatari-Egyptian mediation. Prior handovers included civilians like Amiram Cooper (October 30) and Yaron Avraham (October 28). The deal stipulates daily returns of deceased hostages in exchange for increased aid convoys (now 500 trucks daily) and the release of 120 Palestinian prisoners.

By Khagan Isayev