The Israeli military reported on Wednesday that a body returned by Hamas, the militant group, does not belong to any known hostage, raising alarms about the ongoing ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement. Forensic tests confirmed that this fourth body does not match any of those previously held captive in Gaza.
However, the identities of three other deceased hostages—Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, and Eitan Levi—were verified through DNA analysis. This misidentification has raised serious concerns regarding Hamas’ commitment to the truce, which was facilitated by President Donald Trump and supported by the Red Cross.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas was supposed to return all deceased hostages while Israel would release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. Although Hamas promised to return all 28 bodies of deceased hostages, it has so far only returned seven:
1. Guy Illouz
2. Yossi Sharabi
3. Bipin Joshi
4. Captain Daniel Perez
5. Tamir Nimrodi
6. Uriel Baruch
7. Eitan Levi
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed the necessity for full compliance, insisting, “We will not compromise on this and will not stop our efforts until we return the last deceased hostage, until the last one.”
Despite the partial fulfillment of the agreement by Hamas, humanitarian aid to Gaza has resumed, with 400 trucks carrying essential supplies on their way to the region. After a brief pause due to a Jewish holiday and the prisoner exchanges, the Egyptian Red Crescent reported that these trucks are loaded with approximately 5,700 tonnes of food, over 1,400 tonnes of medical supplies, and around 2,500 tonnes of fuel.
Future aid to Gaza will likely depend on how well Hamas adheres to the ceasefire terms. Israel has previously indicated it might limit humanitarian deliveries if there are further delays in returning hostages’ bodies.
As the situation unfolds, lingering uncertainties regarding the return of the bodies and adherence to the ceasefire create further tension. Experts in Middle Eastern affairs caution that misidentifications could undermine trust between the parties involved and complicate efforts to maintain peace in this volatile region.
