Israeli army says Red Cross has received body of Gaza hostage

The Red Cross has received the remains of another hostage as part of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire, the Israeli army said Friday. Of the 28 deceased hostages held in Gaza when the ceasefire took effect, 22 have previously been returned including 19 Israelis, one Thai national, one Nepali and one Tanzanian.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Friday that the Red Cross had received another hostage body handed over byHamas's under the US-brokered ceasefire dealin Gaza.

"According to information provided by the Red Cross, a coffin of a deceased hostage has been transferred into its custody and is on the way to IDF troops in theGaza Strip," the army said in a statement.

Hamas's armed wing earlier said the body had been found in the city of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

At the start of the truce, which came into effect on October 10, Hamas held 48 hostages in Gaza 20 alive and 28 deceased.

The militants have since released all the surviving captives.

Of the 28 deceased hostages, 22 have previously been returned including 19 Israelis, one Thai national, one Nepali and one Tanzanian.

Read moreHostage remains returned from Gaza belong to Tanzanian student, says Israel

Israel has accused Hamas of dragging its feet in returning the bodies of deceased hostages, while the Palestinian group says the process is slow because many are buried beneath Gaza's rubble.

The group has repeatedly called on mediators and theRed Crossto provide it with the necessary equipment and personnel to recover the bodies.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24

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