Israel confirms 3 bodies received from Hamas are not hostages amid fragile Gaza truce
The Gaza truce is in danger as Israel says three bodies returned are not hostages, and Hamas reports new strikes on Khan Younis
Israel said on Saturday that three bodies it received from Gaza the night before were not hostages held in the Palestinian territory, as a Hamas security source reported fresh strikes in the south.
Despite occasional flare-ups, a fragile truce has been holding in Gaza since October 10, based on a US-brokered deal centred on the return of all Israeli hostages, both living and dead.
Israel’s military said that a forensic analysis revealed that three bodies it received via the Red Cross on Friday were not those of the deceased captives still to be handed over as part of the ceasefire deal.
A second Israeli military official confirmed on Saturday that they were not aware of any hostages, followed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The remains we received are not our hostages,” the office said.
It was unclear who they might be and why they were returned to Israel. The two Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.