Israelis identifying second group of bodies from Hamas as fragile truce holds

Relatives of hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza Strip shout slogans calling for their release at the plaza known as hostages square, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Picture: Francisco Seco/AP

Israel has identified more bodies of dead hostages that were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on a fragile ceasefire in its war with Israel.

The handover came after an Israeli military agency warned it would slash aid deliveries to Gazaas the militant group was not returning the remains as agreed.

Three of four bodies handed over on Tuesday night were identified as Israeli hostages, but the identity of the fourth remained in question.

A gunman wearing the uniform of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stands guard as Red Cross vehicles enter a warehouse allegedly to collect coffins in Gaza City (Yousef Al Zanoun/AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu demanded that Hamas fulfil the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal – introduced by US President Donald Trump – about the return of the hostages’ bodies.

“We will not compromise on this and will not stop our efforts until we return the last deceased hostage, until the last one,” he said.

The US-proposed ceasefire plan had called for all hostages – living and dead – to be handed over by a deadline that expired on Monday. But under the deal, if that did not happen, Hamas was to share information about deceased hostages and try to hand over all as soon as possible.

On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages in Gaza and Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first phase.

Jewish revellers celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah at the plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday (Francisco Seco/AP)

But families of hostages and their supporters expressed dismay that the 28 dead hostages were not all returned.

Hamas and the Red Cross have said that recovering the remains of dead hostages was a challenge because of Gaza’s vast destruction, and Hamas told mediators of the deal that some are in areas controlled by Israeli troops.

By Monday night, Hamas had released four bodies, and four more followed late on Tuesday.

Of that second group of four bodies, three were identified, a group that represents many of their families said on Wednesday.

The Hostages Family Forum said the three were Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levi.

Mr Baruch was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

Mr Nimrodi, who had been serving with the Israeli defence body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza, was taken by militants from the Erez border crossing.

The forum says Mr Levi was kidnapped while driving a friend to Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas attack.