Hamas, Islamic Jihad to Return Hostage’s Body Under Ceasefire Deal

A Red Cross vehicle, escorted by a van driven by a Hamas militant, moves in an area within the so-called "yellow line" to which Israeli troops withdrew under the ceasefire, as Hamas says it continues to search for the bodies of deceased hostages seized during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in Gaza City November 12, 2025. 

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced on Thursday that they will hand over the body of an Israeli hostage at 8 p.m. local time. The remains were reportedly recovered in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis and will be transferred through the Red Cross as part of ongoing ceasefire arrangements.

This move comes under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, which required Hamas to release surviving hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. While 20 surviving hostages have already been freed, the militant groups continue to hold several deceased hostages.

The announcement highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire, which has seen intermittent progress in hostage exchanges and prisoner releases. The Red Cross has played a central role in facilitating these transfers, often under tense conditions along the so-called “yellow line” where Israeli troops have withdrawn.

The identity of the hostage whose body is being returned has not yet been disclosed. For families of those still missing, the handover underscores both the human toll of the conflict and the slow, painful process of resolving hostage cases.