Video crews on Sunday captured Red Cross vehicles transporting the remains of three hostages taken by Hamas across Israel. The vehicles were seen arriving at the National Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv, where officials are expected to conduct examinations to confirm the identities of the deceased.
Israeli authorities said the bodies are believed to be among the 11 hostages whose remains Israel is seeking to retrieve as part of ongoing ceasefire with Hamas and hostage negotiations mediated by international partners, Reuters reported. The transfer of the bodies was coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has played a key role in facilitating exchanges and humanitarian operations during the conflict.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The discovery and return of the remains come as families of the hostages continue to pressure the Israeli government to prioritize negotiations for the release of the remaining captives and the recovery of those presumed dead. Vigils and demonstrations calling for government action have continued in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his Cabinet on Sunday, vowing to continue military operations in Gaza and to respond forcefully to any attacks on Israeli troops.
“The entire issue of risk to our forces — my directive is unequivocal: if there is an attempt to harm our forces, we will strike both those who attack and their organization to protect our troops,” Netanyahu said. “We do report to our American friends, but we do not ask for their permission. We maintain the ultimate security responsibility, and we will not relinquish it.”
Netanyahu reiterated that one of Israel’s central war aims remains the dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities and ensuring that the group can no longer govern or launch attacks from Gaza.
In Gaza, Palestinian health officials reported that one man was killed Sunday following an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a militant who was threatening its forces operating in the area.
