The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday identified three Israeli hostages who were brought back to Israel overnight by Hamas in their bodies, including one whose death had not been officially confirmed by Israeli authorities.
A fourth body handed over was determined not to match any known hostage after examination at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir, according to the IDF.
Military officials notified the relatives of Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi, 18, Uriel Baruch, 35, and Eitan Levy, 53, that their remains had been identified at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv, according to the IDF.
Hamas transferred four bodies to the Red Cross in Gaza City on Tuesday night, which were then handed over to Israeli forces. The bodies were not identified by Hamas at the time of transfer. Israeli authorities determined the fourth body belonged to an unidentified Palestinian individual.
The handover came after Israel said that Hamas had broken the newly established ceasefire by not giving up the remains of dead hostages. On Monday, Hamas let out of the last 20 living hostages, along with the bodies of four dead detainees. Under the ceasefire terms, all 28 deceased captives were to be returned.
Staff Sgt. Nimrodi was kidnapped alive during the Oct. 7 attack and died while in captivity. Both Baruch and Levy were killed during the Oct. 7 massacre, and their bodies were taken into Gaza.
The IDF stated that Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages. The National Institute of Forensic Medicine conducted examinations to confirm the identities.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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