By JULIA FRANKEL, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Red Cross transferred the remains of a hostage to Israeli troops in Gaza, the prime minister’s office said Friday, hours after hundreds of mourners flocked to the funeral of a soldier whose body was turned over this week by Palestinian combatants.

Before Friday’s handover, Hamas had returned the bodies of 22 hostages since the start of the current ceasefire. If the remains in the latest handover over are confirmed to be those of an additional hostage that would leave five others still in Gaza.

The ceasefire, which began Oct. 10, is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas.

As part of the ceasefire, Israel has released the bodies of 285 Palestinians, the Red Cross and Gaza’s

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