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**Israel: Remains Returned by Hamas Do Not Match Deceased Hostages**
Israel announced on Friday that the remains of three individuals returned by Hamas did not match any of the deceased hostages. Following forensic testing, Israeli officials concluded that the remains do not belong to the 11 deceased hostages still being held in Gaza, Fox News has learned.
“The remains we received are not our hostages,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office told The Associated Press after examining the remains. However, neither Netanyahu’s office nor any other Israeli authorities confirmed the identities of the remains to the AP.
It remains unclear who these individuals were and why their remains were returned to Israel.
Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began earlier this month, Hamas has returned the remains of 17 hostages. In some instances, Israel has claimed that Hamas returned remains that did not match the remaining deceased hostages.
Previously, Hamas handed over additional remains belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was first recovered in 2023.
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**Hamas Hands Over Remains of Hostage Recovered Nearly Two Years Ago**
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) clarified its role in the transfer of hostages’ remains. In a statement, the ICRC specified that it “does not take part in locating the remains. In accordance with international humanitarian law, it is the responsibility of the parties to search for, collect, and return the dead.”
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**Red Cross Receives Two Coffins of Deceased Hostages in Gaza Strip**
On Thursday, Israel received the remains of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, leaving 11 deceased hostages still in the Gaza Strip. Among them are U.S. citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra.
Israeli intelligence suggests that Cooper was alive when he was taken from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimate that Cooper was killed in February 2024. He was 84 years old.
Cooper is survived by his wife, four children, and 11 grandchildren.
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https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-says-remains-three-people-handed-over-hamas-do-not-match-any-deceased-hostages
