Israel Receives Suspected Hostage Body via Red Cross

The IDF says the Red Cross collected a casket from Hamas in Gaza City believed to contain the body of a slain Israeli hostage and is bringing it to Israeli forces for inspection as part of a ceasefire arrangement. The military will examine the remains, drape the casket in an Israeli flag and hold a brief ceremony led by a military rabbi before transferring the body to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for formal identification. The handover was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, with Red Cross vehicles also reported at recovery sites in Khan Yunis. The transfer was reported as part of broader ceasefire-linked exchanges between Israel and Hamas. Politically, Shas leader Arye Dery called to halt humanitarian aid and close the Rafah crossing until all hostage bodies are returned, accusing Hamas of “playing cynical games.”