JERUSALEM -- 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 militants.

Before Friday's handover, Hamas had returned the bodies of 22 hostages since the start of the current ceasefire. The latest remains were moved into Israel late Friday, the military said, and taken to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine for identification.

If they are confirmed to be those of an additional hostage, that would leave five others in Gaza still to be returned under terms of the ceasefire that began Oct. 10. The agreement is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Isra

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