Israel confirms Hamas returned bodies of three soldiers held hostage | BBC News

Israel has confirmed the identities of three deceased hostages whose bodies it received from Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza on Sunday.

Forensic tests showed the remains were those of Israeli soldiers Col Asaf Hamami, Capt Omer Neutra and Staff Sgt Oz Daniel, the prime minister’s office said.

Under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire deal with Israel that started more than three weeks ago, Hamas agreed to return all 20 living and 28 dead hostages it was holding.

But Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the recovery of the dead hostages’ bodies, while Hamas has insisted it is struggling to find them under rubble.

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