Israel on Thursday night said the Israel Defense Forces had received a coffin believed to contain the remains of a hostage, transferred by the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, “Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the body of a fallen hostage that was transferred to IDF and Shin Bet forces inside Gaza." After being handed over to troops in the enclave, the remains were moved to Israel and received in a military ceremony attended by the IDF chief rabbi.

The body was to be taken to the Health Ministry’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for formal identification. Officials added that all families of the deceased hostages had been notified. “In this difficult hour, our hearts are with them,"

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