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Israel on Tuesday received the coffins of two hostages returned from Gaza through the Red Cross, as officials said the remains will be identified before being released to their families as the military vowed to keep working to bring home all remaining captives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the coffins were handed over to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet force inside Gaza. From there, they will be transferred to Israel, where they will be received in a military ceremony with the chief military rabbi.
Once received, the coffins will be placed in the custody of the National Center of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health, where they will be identified. The families will receive formal notification once the process is complete.
The prime minister’s office said all families of the deceased hostages have been updated and sympathy has been expressed for their loss.
ISRAEL NAMES TWO OF FOUR DEAD HOSTAGES RETURNED BY HAMAS, HOW THEY DIED
People walk past posters of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Oct. 10, 2025. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
“The effort to return our hostages continues ceaselessly and will not stop until the very last hostage is returned,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The news comes the same day remains of a hostage returned from Gaza were identified as Sgt. Maj. Tal Haimi, commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak’s rapid response team.
REMAINS OF LAST FEMALE HAMAS HOSTAGE AND IDF SOLDIER HANDED OVER TO ISRAEL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen as President Donald Trump prepares to deliver remarks to the Knesset on October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. (Kenny Holston – Pool/Getty Images)
Haimi was 41 when he died, and according to the IDF, he was killed in combat while defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. His remains were taken to Gaza, where they were held for more than two years.
Haimi’s family initially believed he was taken alive, and Israel declared him deceased on Dec. 13, 2023.
REMAINS OF LAST FEMALE HAMAS HOSTAGE AND IDF SOLDIER HANDED OVER TO ISRAEL
The Israeli army held a military protocol for deceased hostage Tal Haimi. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
Following the identification of Haimi’s remains, Netanyahu’s office expressed condolences to his family and reiterated its call for Hamas to release the remains of all deceased hostages for proper burial.
The IDF echoed the call, demanding Hamas fulfill its obligations under the agreement brokered by the Trump administration.
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On Oct. 13, 2025, the final 20 living hostages returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity. Since then, the remains of 28 deceased hostages have gradually been returned, while 13 others — including U.S. citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, and soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held since 2014 — remain in Gaza.
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
