A body returned to Israel by Hamas yesterday is not an Israeli hostage, officials have told local media.
Examinations on the bodies showed that one belongs to a person from Gaza. The other three remains have been identified as Tamir Nimrodi, Eitan Levy, and Uriel Baruch.
Following the identification of the three bodies, forensic experts in Israel noted they are exploring the possibility that one might not be among the 24 individuals who perished while held in Gaza.
Earlier in the year, Hamas representatives returned a body they claimed was that of Shiri Bibas, one of the hostages. However, it was subsequently confirmed to be that of a Palestinian.
One of the stipulations of Us president Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan was the release of all hostages – dead or alive.
Yet, Hamas’ inability to produce the remains of the deceased has sparked concerns that the peace agreement is already jeopardized. The group has been accused of deliberately withholding the remains.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Red Cross had joined in the search for the bodies.
A vehicle belonging to the charity was seen heading to the ‘Kissufim’ area to look for bodies in the ruins of Gaza.
After the release of all living hostages on Monday, Israel ordered Hamas to deliver the bodies of all dead hostages by the end of Tuesday.
Israeli soldier Tamir Mimrodi was kidnapped from his army base during Hamas’ massacre on Otober 7, 2023
Eitan Levy’s body was among those delivered to Israel last night
The IDF has confirmed that Uriel Baruch’s body was also identified.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that Tamir Nimrodi, a soldier whose remains were returned yesterday, died due to IDF strikes.
His family expressed: ‘After enduring two long years of painful uncertainty, the difficult news of our beloved Tamir’s identification reached us. Tamir was heartlessly abducted from his base and killed in Hamas custody.’
Israel has now refused to increase aid that was due to go into Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump expressed his disappointment in Hamas’ failure to provide the bodies.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: ‘IS NOT DONE’. He also added: ‘THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED!’
While the Israeli military confirmed it had informed the family of the three identified, there was no mention of the third body.
A spokesman for the group later said that it was acting on its commitment to return the bodies of hostage soldiers.
While the world celebrated the release of the living hostages, only four caskets containing those who died arrived, provoking fury across Israel.
After Netanyahu’s Tuesday deadline, Hamas vowed to send another four. Their military confirmed that their coffins were collected by the Red Cross.
But yesterday, a spokesman for the charity said the search for the bodies would be a massive challenge.
Christian Cardon said: ‘I think there is clearly a risk that that will take much more time. What we are telling the parties is that that should be their top priority.’
He also indicated that it could take days or weeks to retrieve the remains.
The Red Cross said it was providing an additional 23 staff, body bags and refrigerated vehicles to ensure the deceased are handled with respect and dignity within Gaza.
Relatives of hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza hold up placards and demand their release
A vehicle carrying the bodies of hostages is seen arriving into Israel
IDF troops receive remains of killed hostages at official ceremony, October 13, 2025
After the return of the bodies last night, Netanyahu said: ‘All the families of the hostages have been updated on the matter, and in this difficult hour, our hearts are with them.
‘The effort to bring back our hostages continues relentlessly and will not stop until the last hostage is returned.’
The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum, yesterday, called the failure to return all the deceased a ‘blatant breach’ of the deal.
It said: ‘We expect Israel’s government and the mediators to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice.’
‘The families of the deceased hostages are enduring especially difficult days filled with deep sorrow.
‘We will not abandon any hostage. The mediators must enforce the agreement’s terms and ensure Hamas pays a price for this violation.’
The group also wrote a letter to US special envoy Steve Witkoff asking him to ‘pull out every stop and leave no stone unturned’ in ensuring that the bodies are found and returned.
Udi Goren, who is still waiting for the return of the body of his cousin Tal Haimi, told the Daily Mail that until they are all returned, his family is left in agony.
‘We cannot move on, have closure, and be able to recover until Tal and all the dead are back home,’ he said.
‘I was actually hopeful that we would get my cousin back for the first time… I was desperately disappointed. We thought our personal struggle would be over and we could move forward, but now it carries on.’
In addition to the Red Cross’ efforts, a joint multinational task force involving Israel, the US, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar was established to locate the bodies.
Yesterday, the IDF confirmed it had identified the first four bodies delivered by Hamas. Two were named as 26-year-old Israeli national Guy Iluz and 22-year-old Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi.
The body of Joshi Bipin, who arrived in Israel for an agricultural program just three weeks before the attacks, was identified yesterday
Guy Iluz’s body was also identified by the IDF. He was wounded and taken alive, but died in captivity due to a lack of medical treatment
Yossi Sharabi was named in Israeli media as one of the first dead hostages released to Israel
The other two were named in Israeli media as Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Perez.
Joshi had just arrived in Israel for an agricultural program three weeks before the attacks. The Israeli military has said he was killed in the first months of the war. He is said to have caught a grenade thrown by Hamas to save his friends’ lives.
Illuz was at the Nova music festival when he was taken. He was wounded but alive and later died due to a lack of medical care while in captivity.
This is a breaking news story with more to follow.
