Israel received the remains of another hostage on Thursday, handed over by militants in the Gaza Strip to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported, according to LETA citing AFP.
A coffin containing the body of a hostage in the Gaza Strip was handed over to the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service.
Forensic experts later confirmed that the body belonged to Israeli hostage Meni Godard, who was killed on October 7, 2023, at the age of 73, when Hamas militants invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army notified Godard's family that "their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identity has been confirmed," the statement from Netanyahu's office said.
According to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the military wing of Hamas, militants are to return three more bodies of hostages to Israel.
On Thursday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad combat formations announced that they would hand over this body. Hamas reported that it was found in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
At the start of the ceasefire, which came into effect on October 10, there were still 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased in the hands of Hamas. The group released all living hostages and handed over the remains of 25 individuals to Israel.
In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned hundreds of bodies of Palestinians.
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