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Israel assesses latest remains transferred by Hamas do not belong to captives: Reports
Last night, the Red Cross said it transferred the remains of three people to Israel, which is still seeking the bodies of 11 deceased captives in Gaza.
But after forensic analysis, Israel now assesses none of the remains belong to abductees, according to Israeli media reports, including Israel Army Radio and Channel 12.
On several occasions, Israel has accused Hamas of returning remains that do not match any of the captives. Hamas has accused Israel of impeding search efforts, including by blocking the entry of heavy machinery needed to clear rubble-strewn areas.
Search for bodies in Gaza complicated by lack of forensic testing
Israeli media reports say body parts transferred to Israel yesterday do not belong to any of the people taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The search for the remains of deceased captives is part of the greater challenge on the ground in the war-torn Gaza Strip. It is taking place in some areas where the Israeli military is technically in control, and is constantly deploying heavy artillery and drones.
The reality is that many of the Israeli captives were held in the proximity of guards. Some of their remains have been beneath rubble for a long time, near the remains of those guards. On top of that, there’s no forensic or DNA testing whatsoever here in Gaza to properly identify bodies.
So it’s possible the remains of captives’ bodies were commingled or mixed up.
And the team of Turkish forensic experts, 80 strong, is still waiting to enter at the Rafah crossing...
Hamas calls for more equipment, personnel to retrieve captive bodies
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, says it offered to give Israel samples from unidentified remains, but it refused and demanded the bodies for examination.
As a result, the Red Cross transferred the unidentified bodies of three people to Israel on Friday after they were handed over by Hamas.
“The Qassam Brigades affirm the readiness of its teams to work on retrieving the bodies of enemy prisoners inside the Green Line simultaneously and in all locations, as part of closing this file,” the Palestinian group said in a statement, referring to the generally recognised boundary between Israel and the occupied West Bank.
“The Qassam Brigades call upon the mediators and the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide and equip the necessary equipment and personnel to work on retrieving all the bodies simultaneously.”
