Video crews on Sunday captured Red Cross vehicles transporting the remains of three hostages taken by Hamas across Israel. The vehicles were seen arriving at the National Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, where officials are expected to conduct examinations to confirm the identities of the deceased.

Israeli authorities said the bodies are believed to be among the 11 hostages whose remains Israel is seeking to retrieve as part of ongoing ceasefire with Hamas and hostage negotiations mediated by international partners, Reuters reported. The transfer of the bodies was coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has played a key role in facilitating exchanges and humanitarian operations during the conflict.

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The discovery and return of the remains come as families of the hostages continue to pressure the Israeli government to prioritize negotiations for the release of the remaining captives and the recovery of those presumed dead. Vigils and demonstrations calling for government action have continued in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his Cabinet on Sunday, vowing to continue military operations in Gaza and to respond forcefully to any attacks on Israeli troops.

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“The entire issue of risk to our forces — my directive is unequivocal: if there is an attempt to harm our forces, we will strike both those who attack and their organization to protect our troops,” Netanyahu said. “We do report to our American friends, but we do not ask for their permission. We maintain the ultimate security responsibility, and we will not relinquish it.”

Netanyahu reiterated that one of Israel’s central war aims remains the dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities and ensuring that the group can no longer govern or launch attacks from Gaza.

In Gaza, Palestinian health officials reported that one man was killed Sunday following an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a militant who was threatening its forces operating in the area.

Israel Receives Remains Of Three Hostages From Gaza The bodies were handed over by Hamas as part of the ongoing ceasefire, highlighting both the fragile peace and the emotional toll on families awaiting closure.

Key Points Israel confirmed the return of remains of three hostages from Gaza, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross amid the ceasefire with Hamas.

Hamas reported finding the remains in a southern Gaza tunnel, contributing to the incremental exchange of hostages and bodies since the October 10, 2025 ceasefire.

Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to eliminating Hamas resistance and recovering all hostages, asserting Israel’s autonomy over military decisions during the ceasefire.

On Sunday, Israel confirmed that the remains of three hostages had been returned from Gaza, marking a somber milestone as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered its second month. The transfer, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), came amid ongoing efforts to recover all hostages and maintain a delicate peace in the war-torn region.

According to the Israeli military, the Red Cross took possession of three coffins containing the deceased hostages’ remains in southern Gaza. These were then escorted to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops in the Gaza Strip and subsequently transported to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for formal identification. The identities of the victims will be confirmed by forensic experts before being shared with their families, as emphasized by Israeli officials. The process, though routine in conflict zones, remains deeply emotional for the families awaiting closure.

Hamas, in a statement released Sunday, said the remains were found earlier that day in a tunnel in southern Gaza. The group published a photograph showing a body bag with the name of one deceased hostage, while the other two were not named. The return of these remains forms part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, which began on October 10, 2025, and has seen a slow but steady exchange of hostages and bodies between the two sides.

Since the start of the ceasefire, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 still believed to remain in Gaza before this latest handover, as reported by The Associated Press. The process has been incremental, with militants releasing one or two bodies every few days. Israel, for its part, has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage’s body returned. However, the identification of Palestinian bodies has been hampered by a lack of DNA kits in Gaza. Health officials there report that only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire began have been identified, leaving many families in limbo as they search for answers among posted photographs of the deceased.

The handover of bodies has become a focal point in the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, which includes a 20-point agreement. Central to this plan is the formation of an international stabilization force—comprising Arab and other partners—that would work alongside Egypt and Jordan to secure Gaza’s borders and ensure the ceasefire is upheld. Multiple nations have expressed interest in contributing troops to this peacekeeping force but have called for a clear United Nations Security Council mandate before committing personnel.

The return of the hostages’ remains is not without its complications. Hamas has, on occasion, delivered remains that did not belong to any of the deceased hostages held in Gaza, complicating identification efforts and prolonging the anguish for families. The group claims that the widespread devastation in Gaza has made recovery efforts arduous and sometimes imprecise.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation on Sunday, reiterating Israel’s commitment to eliminating the remaining pockets of Hamas resistance in Rafah and Khan Younis—two areas still under partial Hamas control within Israeli-held territory in Gaza. “There are actually two in Rafah and Khan Younis, and they will be eliminated,” Netanyahu declared during a Cabinet meeting, as cited by The Associated Press. He further emphasized, “We will gradually bring back all our hostages. This is our commitment.” Netanyahu also stressed that Israel retains full security responsibility in Gaza, dismissing claims that key decisions are being dictated by the White House. “We report to our American friends, but we do not seek their permission,” he stated, making clear Israel’s intent to maintain autonomy in its military operations and postwar strategy.

The ceasefire agreement, which required Hamas to return all 20 living hostages within 72 hours and all 28 deceased hostages it could locate within the same timeframe, has seen mixed compliance. While all living hostages were returned promptly, only a fraction of the deceased were handed over by the deadline. Since then, the process has inched forward, with Hamas returning additional bodies at intervals. If the latest remains are confirmed to belong to hostages, eight deceased hostages would still remain in Gaza after this handover.

The emotional toll on families has been immense. Weekly rallies in Jerusalem and other cities underscore the ongoing pain and the call for restraint. On Saturday night, Moran Harari, a friend of the late Carmel Gat, urged Israel to avoid further escalation. “This cursed war has taken so many lives of dear people on both sides of the fence. This time, we must not fall into it again,” Harari said during a rally, as reported by FOX.

The broader humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas began with the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to official Israeli statements. Since then, the Israeli military offensive has killed more than 68,600 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records that are generally considered reliable by independent experts, though Israel disputes the figures and has denied accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.

Amid the ongoing ceasefire, the United Nations has noted a significant decline in the looting of humanitarian aid in Gaza. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that only five percent of supplies were intercepted between October 10 and October 28, compared to more than 80% in the preceding months. However, accusations continue to fly: The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) recently published drone footage it claims shows suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck in southern Gaza. Hamas has categorically denied these allegations, calling them “false, lack[ing] field evidence, and part of a systematic disinformation campaign.”

On the ground, the situation remains tense. On November 2, the Israeli military reported killing a terror operative in Gaza City who had crossed the so-called Yellow Line, posing what the military described as an immediate threat. The Israeli Air Force responded with a strike, as detailed in military statements and corroborated by Palestinian media reports.

Meanwhile, Hamas has sought to reassert control over civilian affairs in Gaza during the ceasefire. The group has regulated food prices, shutting down several shawarma restaurants accused of price gouging, and circulated lists of permitted prices on social media. These efforts, while ostensibly aimed at supporting civilians, also underscore the group’s ongoing influence and the challenges of governance amid devastation.

As the region waits for further developments, the return of the three hostages’ remains stands as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the complexity of achieving lasting peace. The painstaking process of identification and exchange continues, with families on both sides longing for closure and the international community watching closely for signs of progress—or renewed tension.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.

Find more of AP’s Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

GAZA CITY, GAZA – NOVEMBER 2: An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle transports the bodies of three Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas’ armed wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in Gaza under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, on November 2, 2025. The Red Cross convoy moved toward the Kissufim Border Crossing following the transfer. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says the remains of three hostages have been handed over from Gaza and will be examined by forensic experts as a month-old ceasefire holds. U.S. President Donald Trump later on Sunday indicated one of the hostages returned was Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen. A Hamas statement earlier said the remains were found Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Before Sunday, Palestinian militants had released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 remaining in Gaza, since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains aren’t of any hostage.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Hamas handed over bodies of three hostages on Sunday, even as the Palestinian group traded blame with Israel for violations of the tenuous truce that has mostly halted two years of war.

Israeli forces in Gaza received coffins carrying the bodies of three hostages, conveyed through the Red Cross, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. The remains will be transported to Israel for identification.

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The bodies are expected to be those of three of the 11 hostages whose remains Israel is seeking from Gaza under the terms of the ceasefire. Israel has said Hamas has been too slow in delivering them; Hamas says it is working as quickly as possible under difficult conditions.

The issue has been just one of the disputes holding up full implementation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in place since October 10.

Earlier on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike killed one man in northern Gaza. The Israeli military said its aircraft had struck a militant who was posing a threat to its forces. Al-Ahli Hospital said one man was killed in the airstrike near a vegetable market in the Shejaia suburb of Gaza City.

“There are still Hamas pockets in the areas under our control in Gaza, and we are systematically eliminating them,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks at the start of a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Hamas released what it described as a list of violations of the ceasefire by Israel. Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied that Hamas fighters had violated the truce by attacking Israeli soldiers.

VIOLENCE NOT COMPLETELY HALTED

The ceasefire has calmed most fighting, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the ruins of their homes in Gaza. Israel has withdrawn troops from positions in cities and more aid has been allowed in.

Hamas released all 20 living hostages held in Gaza in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian convicts and wartime detainees held by Israel.

Hamas also agreed under the ceasefire to hand over the remains of 28 dead hostages in exchange for the bodies of 360 Palestinian militants killed in the war. Before Sunday it had turned over 17.

Meanwhile, violence has not completely halted. Palestinian health authorities say Israeli forces have killed 236 people in strikes on Gaza since the truce, nearly half of them in a single day last week when Israel retaliated for an attack on its troops. Israel says three of its soldiers have been killed and it has targeted scores of fighters.

The ceasefire was mediated by the United States, and both sides have appealed to Washington to halt violations.

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The U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, met on Saturday with Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir during a visit to the region to discuss Gaza, the Israeli military said.

Netanyahu said any Israeli action in Gaza is reported to Washington. Hamas said the United States was not doing enough to ensure Israel abides by the ceasefire agreement.

About 200 U.S. troops have set up base in southern Israel to monitor the ceasefire and help make plans for an international force to stabilise the enclave, as foreseen in later phases of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war.

There has been little sign of progress on the next stages so far, and major obstacles still lie ahead, including the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

– Ends

Published By: Aashish Vashistha Published On: Nov 3, 2025

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