Journalism of Courage
Israel said it is preparing to receive what could be the last hostage remains held in Gaza. The transfer is expected to be carried out by the Red Cross.
In a statement cited by Reuters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “Israel is preparing to receive from the Red Cross findings that were transferred from the Gaza Strip. The findings will be transferred to the National Center of Forensic Medicine.”
The PM’s office said officials were in continuous contact with the families of the two hostages who are believed to be dead: Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak. Both were kidnapped during Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack.
The Red Cross, which has acted as a link between militant groups in Gaza and Israel throughout the war, is expected to hand over the remains. Israel said the material would then undergo forensic tests to confirm the identities. It was not immediately clear, AP reported, whether the remains had already reached the Red Cross.
Meanwhile, Health officials in Gaza told AP that an Israeli drone strike killed a journalist, Mohamed Wadi, in the southern city of Khan Younis. He previously worked filming with a drone.
Separately, a man was shot dead near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 350 Palestinians have been killed across the territory since a ceasefire on 11 October halted large-scale fighting. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either killing. It has said earlier that shots were fired at its forces in several cases.
Israel’s military said troops shot dead a man who stabbed two soldiers near the settlement of Ateret, north of Ramallah. The army said the incident was being reviewed.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said an 18-year-old was killed north of Ramallah, though it was not clear if this was the same case.
Later in the day, troops shot a Palestinian teenager accused of carrying out a car-ramming attack near Hebron. The army said he ran away during an arrest attempt “while endangering the soldiers”. The Health Ministry identified him as a 17-year-old. Israel’s Mada rescue service said two soldiers were lightly wounded in the earlier stabbing.
Hamas praised the ramming attack, calling it “a response to ongoing raids in the West Bank,” AP reported, although it did not claim responsibility.
Israeli forces demolished the home of Abdul Karim Sanoubar, who is being held on allegations of planting bombs on buses in central Israel in February. Troops evacuated nearby homes before the demolition.
Israel also carried out more strikes in southern Lebanon, where exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire last year.
Hamas’ 7 October attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel and about 250 hostages were taken. Most hostages or their remains have been returned under deals or ceasefire arrangements.
Gaza’s Health Ministry, run by the Hamas administration, says more than 70,100 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The ministry keeps detailed records considered generally reliable by international organisations.
(With inputs from Reuters and AP)
