Israel says Hamas returned physique of Israeli-US soldier held hostage

[ad_1] Israel has confirmed the newest physique of a hostage returned by Hamas through the Crimson Cross is that of Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen.

The 19-year-old's stays had been handed over on Tuesday as a part of a Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump final month.

"Following the completion of the identification course of... [Israel Defense Forces] representatives knowledgeable the household of the fallen hostage, Workers Sergeant Itay Chen, that their liked one has been returned to Israel and positively recognized," the Israeli prime minister's workplace mentioned.

Earlier, Hamas's army wing mentioned it had recovered the physique of an Israeli soldier within the jap Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza Metropolis.

Israel had allowed members of the Palestinian armed group and Crimson Cross employees to seek for the stays within the space, which is inside territory nonetheless managed by Israeli forces.

Workers Sgt Chen was serving as a soldier within the IDF's seventh Brigade when Hamas-led gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

The IDF mentioned he was killed inside a tank throughout a battle in Kibbutz Nir Oz and that his physique was taken to Gaza as a hostage by Hamas.

"The stays of Itay Chen, a younger American taken hostage by Hamas at simply 19 years outdated, have lastly returned dwelling. We honour his life, mourn his loss, and stand along with his household," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board in Israel welcomed his return but in addition burdened that there have been seven deceased hostages nonetheless in Gaza.

"Please do not cease till they're all again dwelling. Till the final hostage," it mentioned.

On Wednesday morning, Nasser hospital within the southern Gaza metropolis of Khan Younis mentioned it had acquired the our bodies of one other 15 lifeless Palestinians from Israel through the Crimson Cross.

For every lifeless Israeli hostage returned, Israel has agreed handy over the stays of 15 Palestinians. However with no DNA testing out there in Gaza, it's laborious to determine them.

The Israeli authorities has accused Hamas of intentionally delaying the restoration of the lifeless hostages because the ceasefire deal took impact on 10 October.

Hamas has insisted it's tough to find the our bodies beneath rubble.

The sluggish progress has meant there was no advance on the second part of President Trump's Gaza peace plan, together with plans for the governance of Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction.

The US has now reportedly drafted a UN Safety Council decision that might give a two-year mandate for a transitional governance physique in Gaza, referred to as the Board of Peace, and an Worldwide Stabilisation Pressure (ISF).

The textual content says the ISF could be tasked with working with Israel and Egypt to safe border areas, "making certain the method of demilitarising the Gaza Strip", defending civilians, and coaching a brand new Palestinian police drive.

It additionally says the ISF could be authorised to "use all mandatory measures to hold out its mandate".

It's understood the draft has not but been formally despatched to different Safety Council members for negotiations.

Beneath the ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to return the 20 residing and 28 lifeless hostages it was nonetheless holding inside 72 hours.

All of the residing Israeli hostages had been launched on 13 October in alternate for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

Israel has handed over the our bodies of 285 Palestinians in alternate for the our bodies of the 19 Israeli hostages returned by Hamas, together with these of two overseas hostages - considered one of them Thai and the opposite Nepalese.

5 of the seven lifeless hostages nonetheless in Gaza are Israelis, one is Tanzanian, and one is Thai.

All however one of many lifeless hostages nonetheless in Gaza had been among the many 251 individuals kidnapped in the course of the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, throughout which about 1,200 different individuals had been killed.

Israel responded by launching a army marketing campaign in Gaza, throughout which greater than 68,800 individuals have been killed, in accordance with the territory's Hamas-run well being ministry.

On Tuesday, a hospital official in Gaza Metropolis mentioned a person was killed by Israeli fireplace within the Jabalia space of northern Gaza.

The Israeli army mentioned its troops killed a "terrorist" who had crossed the "Yellow Line", which demarcates Israeli-controlled territory, and posed a menace to them.