On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the remains of an Israeli hostage are being handed over to the Red Cross. This transfer is taking place in the Gaza Strip, after which the remains will be passed to the IDF.

The IDF’s statement described the Red Cross’s journey to a designated meeting point in the central Gaza Strip. Here, they will receive a coffin containing the deceased hostage’s remains for further transfer.

The IDF urged the public to exercise patience and sensitivity, emphasizing that official identification of the remains will be communicated first to the families involved.

The statement also highlighted Hamas’s responsibility in fulfilling the agreement, demanding that they take necessary actions to return all deceased hostages.

The Red Cross plays a pivotal role in ensuring the remains of Israeli hostages are securely transferred from Hamas to the IDF. (Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli officials later provided an update saying that they received the remains.

“The coffin of the deceased hostage, escorted by IDF troops, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago and is on its way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out,” the joint statement from the IDF and Israel Security Agency said.

Prior to Tuesday, there were three deceased hostages known to still be in Hamas custody: Ran Gvili, 24, Dror Or, 48, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43.

Gvili served in an elite police unit and was recovering from a motorcycle injury on Oct. 7, 2023. He nevertheless rushed to respond to the attack and helped people escape from the Nova music festival. He was later killed fighting at another location and his body was taken to Gaza.

President Donald Trump is seen meeting with freed Israeli hostages at the White House last week. (Margo Martin; Fox News)

Or was a father of three who was killed along with his wife, Yonat Or, while protecting two of their children on Oct. 7. The two children, Noam, who was then 16, and Alma, then 13, were abducted and then released during the November 2023 ceasefire.

Rinthalak was a Thai worker employed at a kibbutz that came under attack on Oct. 7. He is one of 31 Thai workers who were kidnapped on Oct. 7. The Thai government says at least 46 of its citizens were killed during the course of the war in Gaza.

The latest release comes less than a week after President Donald Trump met with 17 surviving Israeli hostages and their loved ones at the White House.

Trump gave each of the 17 survivors a Presidential Challenge Coin.

“You’re not a hostage anymore, today you’re heroes,” Trump said. “We love you all, and our country loves you all. You’re amazing people.”