In a move Israeli officials say underscores Hamas’s continued obstruction of the ceasefire agreement, the terrorist organization has transferred the remains of three individuals—none of whom belong to any of the 11 known deceased hostages still held in Gaza.

The remains were handed over overnight Friday via Red Cross intermediaries and transported to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv. After examination, forensic teams confirmed the bodies do not match any of the Israeli, Thai, or Tanzanian hostages on the official list.

“We ruled out the possibility that the remains returned last night are linked to any Israeli hostage,” an Israeli official told Ynet on Saturday.

While the handover technically complies with the ceasefire’s terms—which require the transfer of remains in ambiguous cases—Jerusalem views the move as part of Hamas’s ongoing campaign of delay and manipulation.

“This incident does not constitute a violation,” the official acknowledged, “but Hamas continues its fundamental violation—the failure to return the bodies of the fallen.”

Under the US-backed ceasefire agreement, Hamas is obligated to return all confirmed deceased hostages. Yet as of this weekend, only two bodies—those of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch—have been recovered and identified by Israeli authorities.

Cooper, 84, was kidnapped alive from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 and died in Hamas captivity. He is survived by his wife, four children, and 11 grandchildren.

Baruch, 25, was taken from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri and murdered in captivity on December 8, 2023. He leaves behind parents and two brothers.

The IDF released a statement expressing condolences to the families and reaffirmed its commitment to return all the deceased. “Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the hostages… for a dignified burial,” the IDF said.

According to military intelligence, at least two more bodies are fully recoverable, but Hamas is withholding them to avoid progressing into the second phase of the ceasefire deal—which involves disarmament and the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza.

Instead, Israeli officials believe Hamas is deliberately dragging out the process, hoping to reassert control in areas vacated by the IDF and increase its leverage in future reconstruction negotiations.

The 11 deceased hostages still held by Hamas include:

• Nine Israelis: Sgt. Oz Daniel, Meny Godard, Lt. Hadar Goldin (captured in 2014), Sgt. Maj. Ran Gvili, Col. Asaf Hamami, Staff Sgt. Itai Hen, Capt. Omer Neutra, Dror Or, and Lior Rudaeff

• One Tanzanian: Joshua Mollel, an agricultural intern

• One Thai national: Sudthisak Rinthalak

Analysis: By returning unidentified remains, Hamas buys time without technically breaching the ceasefire. But time is the very currency the group is using to reentrench itself—and avoid the disarmament that would weaken its grip on Gaza.

For Israel, the issue is not only strategic. It is deeply moral. Families of the slain deserve closure. Their sons and daughters deserve a burial in their homeland.

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