The IDF received the remains of one slain hostage after Hamas announced earlier on Friday that it had recovered a captive's body in Gaza.
The remains arrived in Israel at 12:45 a.m. Saturday morning. The Red Cross received the remains at around midnight, though Hamas said that the handover would happen at around 11 p.m. on Friday.
The terror group discovered the remains of the hostage on Friday evening.
Forensic doctors are currently examining the remains of the hostage to determine their cause of death and identify the body.
"All families of the hostages who were killed have been informed, and in this difficult time, our hearts are with them. The effort to bring back our hostages continues without interruption and will not cease until the last hostage is returned," a press release from the Prime Minister's Office stated.
The IDF confirmed that it had informed the relevant family, and that IDF representatives would escort them through the process.
Hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch confirmed to the families of captives that the remains of a hostage are expected to arrive in Israel on Friday night. After receiving the remains, a respectful military ceremony will be held, and then they will be transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.
The disclosure came after Israel and mediators applied pressure on the terror group to return the remains of the hostages in alignment with US President Donald Trump's agreement.
The terror group has been criticized for delaying the return of the remains of killed hostages.
Hamas blames Israel for terror group failing to return hostages
Hamas claimed on Thursday that the return of Israeli hostages' remains may take time, as some were buried in tunnels destroyed by Israel, and others remain under the rubble of buildings that Israel bombed and destroyed, adding that the group remained committed to the Gaza agreement and keen to hand over all the remains of all hostages held in Gaza.
The retrieval of the remaining hostages required equipment to remove rubble, which was currently unavailable due to Israel’s ban on entry of such tools, Hamas added.
Israel will continue refusing to allow a Turkish delegation of 81 rescue personnel and heavy equipment to enter the Gaza Strip until Hamas returns all the remains of deceased hostages that it can, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
Amichai Stein and Reuters contributed to this report.