The family of a Israeli hostage whose remains were handed over to Israel by Hamas said on Wednesday they can finally find relief.

"Two years of hell, two years of sleepless nights, uncertainty that cut deep into our souls. All of this has come to an end where we can finally say the sentence we've been waiting for: Itay is back home," said Ruby Chen, father of deceased hostage Itay Chen.

The remains of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen were returned for burial in Israel, the military said Wednesday, in the latest sign of progress under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Chen, 19, of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, after falling from a tank and his death was officially confirmed on March 10, 2024, the military said in a statement on X.

The announcement came after the remains of a hostage in Gaza were returned Tuesday.

Ahead of the announcement, Hamas had returned the remains of 20 hostages to Israel under the ceasefire that began October 10.

Itay's father said that while their son had been returned the family's fight would not end until the last hostage was released from Gaza.

"Those who know us understand that we always ask one question. Not when the next hostage is going to come back, but when the last hostage is coming back," he said.

Officials at Gaza’s largest functioning hospital said Wednesday that the bodies of 15 more Palestinians were returned from Israel, as exchanges outlined in last month’s fragile ceasefire went ahead despite allegations of violations.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has transported 285 bodies held in Israeli custody to Gaza since last month's agreement was brokered, though health officials in Gaza have said identifying the remains is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits.

Israel has not disclosed how many bodies it is holding or where they were recovered, but has been returning 15 each time the remains of an Israeli hostage are returned from Gaza.

AP video shot by: Paz Bar