NewNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Israel said the remains of three people returned by Hamas on Friday did not match those of any of the dead hostages.
Fox News has learned that after forensic testing, Israeli officials said it has concluded that the remains are not those of the 11 dead hostages still being held in Gaza.
“The remains we found are not those of our hostages,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office told The Associated Press after examining the remains. However, neither Netanyahu’s office nor any other Israeli officials confirmed the identity of the remains to the AP. It is still unclear who these people were and why they were given to Israel.
Since a US-brokered ceasefire began earlier this month, Hamas has returned the remains of 17 hostages. Along with those already handed over, there have been instances in which Israel has claimed that Hamas has returned remains that do not match those of the remaining dead hostages. Hamas had previously returned additional remains of Ofir Tzarfati, whose body was first recovered in 2023.
Hamas hands over remains of hostages whose bodies were recovered nearly 2 years ago
The Red Cross delivered the body of a dead hostage, who was being held in Gaza since the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, to Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on October 30, 2025. (Ramazan Abed/Reuters)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) clarified its role in the transfer of hostages’ remains. In a statement, the ICRC said it “does not participate in the detection of the remains.”
“In accordance with international humanitarian law, it is the responsibility of the parties to search for, collect and return the dead,” the ICRC said.
IDF says Red Cross finds two coffins of dead hostages in Gaza Strip
Red Cross vehicles arrive in Gaza City on October 14, 2025, under a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, to collect from Hamas the bodies of dead hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack. (Dawood Abu Alqas/Reuters)
On Thursday, Israel found the remains of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, leaving 11 dead hostages in the Gaza Strip, including US citizens Itay Chen and Omar Neutra.
Israeli intelligence revealed that Cooper was alive when he was taken from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it estimated Cooper was murdered in February 2024. He was 84 years old. Cooper left behind his wife, four children and 11 grandchildren.
Participants hold a large banner during a rally organized by hostage families and supporters at “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2025. (Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters)
Click here to download Fox News App
Baruch was taken from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the genocide. The IDF said it estimated that he was killed on December 8, 2023, at the age of 25. Baruch is survived by his parents and two siblings.
In addition to Neutra and Chen, the remaining deceased hostages include Menny Goddard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gwili, Assaf Hamami, Joshua Loitu Mollel, Dror Orr, Oz Daniel, Lior Rudeff, and Sudthisak Rinthalak.
Fox News’s Yonat Friling and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
