Israel has received the bodies of three more hostages held in Gaza by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
“Israel has received the coffins of three deceased hostages through the Red Cross, which were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service in the Gaza Strip,” the statement said.
Later, an Israeli health ministry spokesman said the bodies had been transferred to the National Forensic Center for “identification and investigation into the circumstances and causes of death,” AFP reported. Experts from the center will then meet with the victims’ families.
So far, 17 of the 28 hostages have been returned, including the remains of 15 Israelis, one Thai, and one Nepalese.
