The coffin delivered yesterday evening by Hamas to Israel contains the remains of a hostage whose body had already been brought back to Israel for burial. The remains do not belong to any of the 13 hostages currently still held in the Gaza Strip. The Times of Israel writes it. The assessment was carried out by the authorities following the completion of identification operations at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv.
According to what was reported by eyewitnesses of IDF reservists, Hamas staged the discovery of the body delivered yesterday. Various Israeli media reported it. Channel 12 and Army Radio quoted reservists stationed in eastern Gaza City as saying militia officers did excavation work in the area before pulling a body from a nearby building and placing it in the hole. Hamas would then cover the body with earth and call in the Red Cross to assist in the “excavation”. Army Radio said the entire incident was filmed by a military drone. The IDF has not yet commented.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene an urgent meeting in response to violations committed by Hamas in the return of hostage remains and following the assessment that Hamas has handed over additional remains of a previously returned hostage. Ynet, the online version of the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth, writes it. Israel is reportedly evaluating several possible responses to these violations, including the extension of the yellow line under the control of the IDF.