FROM CBS NEWS: The remains of three people handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross this week did not belong to any of the hostages, an Israeli source told CBS News on Saturday. It is the latest setback that could undermine the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The unidentified remains of the three people were returned late Friday to Israel, where they were examined overnight. At the time, a military official told the Associated Press that Israeli intelligence suggested they did not belong to any of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack in southern Israel that sparked the war. The Israeli official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Saturday confirmed that the remains did not belong to any of the hostages, without giving further details, the Associated Press reported. CBS News has reached out to Netanyahu’s office for additional comment.
Hamas’ armed wing responded in a subsequent statement on Saturday, saying it had handed over unidentified bodies for examination.
“We handed the bodies over to stop the claims of Israel,” the statement said.
Israel has consistently accused Hamas of breaching the truce by not delivering on the return of the remains. According to Hama, he bodies are hard to locate due to the absence of suitable equipment for sifting through the debris and rubble in Gaza.
FALSE RETURN: Israel says Hamas handed over remains that do not belong to any of the deceased hostages.https://t.co/XxlN2EUZIY
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 1, 2025
🇮🇱 SICK, NOT SURPRISED: REMAINS TRANSFERRED BY HAMAS NOT OF HOSTAGES
Israel has confirmed that the three bodies Hamas transferred Friday night are not a match for any of the remaining 11 hostages still held in Gaza.
Hamas blamed Israel, claiming it only transferred the remains… pic.twitter.com/ZkSRkD3dYq
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) November 1, 2025
READ MORE AT CBS NEWS
