One of the four bodies transferred from Gaza to Israel on Tuesday night does not match any of the hostages, the IDF said Wednesday, leading officials to believe Hamas mistakenly sent the body of a Gazan dressed in an IDF uniform.
The IDF spokesperson’s office confirmed the error, and Israeli security officials said the mix-up was likely not deliberate. “It’s better for them to bring bodies that turn out to be misidentified than to wait for absolute confirmation on their side, which could take longer,” one official said.
The body was among four transferred to Israel through the Red Cross as part of ongoing arrangements for the return of hostage remains from Gaza.
The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt remained closed Wednesday, and officials said there was still no decision on when it would reopen. Israel announced Tuesday that the closure was being maintained as a sanction against Hamas for violating the terms of an agreement, but a security source said logistical complications were also contributing to the delay.
“There was and still is preparation for reopening the Rafah Crossing,” the source said. “But because of the delay in transferring the bodies yesterday, a recommendation was made to the political echelon not to open it. Although the remains were returned and Israel received assurances, the crossing will not open today—and it’s unclear when it will.”
The source explained that reopening the crossing requires on-the-ground checks and advance inspection teams. “That takes time,” he said. “Given that the fourth body was not one of the hostages, it’s also possible that tomorrow’s decision will be to keep Rafah closed.”
Despite the mistaken transfer, Israeli officials said Hamas would not face additional sanctions, as the error was likely unintentional. Israel expects another group of hostage remains to be returned later Wednesday, similar in scope to the past two days.
While Rafah remains closed, humanitarian aid continues to flow into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. About 600 trucks carrying food, medicine, and other supplies were expected to enter the Gaza Strip on Wednesday under the existing agreement. Israel had initially considered cutting the number of aid trucks to 300 but decided to maintain the full volume.
The Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv identified three of the four bodies transferred Tuesday night.
- Tamir Nimrodi, an IDF soldier who was kidnapped alive a month before his 19th birthday and listed as being in life-threatening condition.
- Uriel Baruch, 35, from Givon, who was abducted while returning home from the Nova music festival.
- Eitan Levy, 53, who was kidnapped from the Mefalsim junction near the Gaza border.
The fourth body, which Hamas claimed belonged to another hostage, was determined to be that of a Gazan man.
A security official said the discovery means 21 fallen hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza. “Hamas must meet its obligations under the agreement and make every effort to return the fallen hostages to their families for proper burial,” the IDF said in a statement.
The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey have been in contact with American officials about the “complex conditions on the ground” that have hindered the recovery of the remains.
The report said some of the bodies are located in areas that are difficult to access and require significant effort to retrieve. Israeli officials estimate that even after the next expected transfer, at least half of the fallen hostages will remain in Gaza.