Palestinian Groups Turn Over Coffin Believed to Hold Gaza Hostage’s Body as Ceasefire Tensions Rise

In a move that heightens tensions amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas handed a coffin to the Red Cross, saying it contains the body of one of the last Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The handover sets the stage for a formal identification process by Israeli authorities while underscoring ongoing friction over the ceasefire timetable.

The coffin is expected to be transferred to Israeli forces for examination at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv to confirm the identity of the remains.

Earlier on Monday, the groups said a body believed to be an Israeli hostage had been found in central Gaza, raising stakes for the ongoing negotiations and rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office condemned what it called a delay in the immediate transfer, describing it as a violation of the six-week ceasefire agreement and demanding the swift return of the three remaining deceased hostages still in Gaza.

Under the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Hamas agreed to facilitate the return of 20 living Israeli hostages along with the bodies of 28 dead hostages within 72 hours. All living captives were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and about 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

To date, authorities say the remains of 22 dead Israeli hostages and three foreign hostages — a Thai, a Nepalese, and a Tanzanian — have been handed over. Israel has provided the bodies of about 330 Palestinians killed in the war in return.

Two of the three remaining deceased hostages are Israelis — Ran Gvili, 24, and Dror Or, 48 — with the third listed as Thai national Suthisak Rintalak, 43. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the recovery of bodies, while Hamas says the search has been hampered by rubble and difficult conditions on the ground.

The slow pace of body recoveries has stalled progress on the second phase of what was framed as a broader peace plan, including potential governance steps for Gaza, a withdrawal of Israeli troops, disarmament of militant groups, and reconstruction efforts.

The hostages still in Gaza were among the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, a raid that left roughly 1,200 people dead. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has driven a devastating toll, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting tens of thousands of fatalities on the Palestinian side in the ensuing fighting.

As negotiations continue, analysts say the fate of the remaining hostages and the timeline for the next steps in the ceasefire will significantly influence whether broader peace efforts can move forward.

Key Takeaways

• The Red Cross received a coffin claimed to hold a Gaza hostage’s body, triggering a formal ID process in Israel.
• The development intersects with the ceasefire’s first phase and ongoing disputes over timing and compliance.
• Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of bodies; Hamas cites rubble and safety obstacles.
• To date, 22 dead hostages and three foreign nationals’ bodies have been handed over, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
• The stalled progress affects the plan’s second phase, including governance, troop withdrawal, disarmament, and reconstruction efforts.

Expert comment

Regional security analyst Dr. Lina Rahman notes that hostage releases remain a critical litmus test for any durable ceasefire, stressing that practical recoveries and clear timelines are essential to sustaining broader peace talks.

Summary

The handover of the coffin to the Red Cross marks a tense moment in Gaza hostage negotiations, underscoring ongoing disagreements over ceasefire timing and body recoveries. While Israel seeks rapid identification and return of remains, Hamas and allied groups say searches are hampered by rubble and dangerous conditions. The outcome will influence the next phase of discussions on Gaza governance, reconstruction, and security arrangements, as families and the international community watch closely for progress.

Key insight: Delays in recovering hostages and confirming identities are shaping the pace of the broader Gaza peace process and the rollout of the next phase of the deal. Source: BBC News.