Israel says Hamas handed over remains that do not match any former hostages

Vehicles transporting the bodies of four Israeli hostages arrive at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv on October 15, 2025. AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP

The Israeli military said Wednesday, October 15, that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners was not a former hostage. After overnight forensic tests on four bodies returned on Tuesday, the army said medical officials concluded that one "does not match any of the hostages." "Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages," the military warned.

Since Monday, under a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump, Hamas has handed back 20 surviving Israeli hostages and eight bodies – one Nepalese, six Israelis and a now unidentified eighth. Separately, a Gaza hospital said it had received the remains of 45 Palestinians handed back by Israel.

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