The IDF has brought the remains of a slain hostage to Abu Kabir medical center for identification, the Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday at 7:20 p.m.
The military had received them at around 5:45 p.m.
The Red Cross retrieved the remains at a meeting point in the central Gaza Strip at around 4:30 p.m. from Hamas terrorists, who held a small “ceremony” as the remains were being transferred in violation of the agreement.
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad previously announced that the remains reportedly found by the PIJ on Monday evening would be returned at 4:00 p.m.
The announcement came after the Prime Minister’s Office condemned PIJ’s refusal to return the remains earlier on Tuesday, saying that the move constituted another violation of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire.
“In light of the Islamic Jihad’s announcement regarding the discovery of remains of a fallen hostage, Israel views with severity the delay in immediately transferring [them to Israeli] custody,” the statement read. “This constitutes another violation of the agreement.”
The PMO went on to demand the immediate return of the remains of the three remaining deceased hostages still being held in Gaza.
Those hostages are Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, and Dror Or.
Hostage remains reportedly found in IDF-controlled area
The remains were found in areas controlled by the IDF, PIJ stated in a statement shared on its official social media on Monday evening.
Qatari outlet Al Jazeera had earlier reported that hostage remains had been found by the terror organization north of Nuseirat.
James Genn contributed to this report.