A coffin believed to contain the remains of a hostage killed in Gaza was transferred Wednesday evening to the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification, officials said.
According to the military, the body was handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in northern Gaza, then delivered to the IDF inside the enclave before being transferred across the border.
Earlier in the day, Hamas said it had located the remains of another fallen hostage during searches in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City. The terror group said the body would be handed over at 9 p.m.
Once transferred to Israel via the Red Cross, the body is expected to be taken to the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification.
The announcement comes one day after the remains of IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Itay Chen were returned and laid to rest in Israel. Chen, a tank crew member from the 7th Armored Brigade's 77th Battalion, was killed during fierce fighting on October 7 in the Gaza border region.
His body was transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross in northern Gaza on Tuesday, and then handed over to Israeli military and intelligence personnel before being flown to Israel with full military honors, accompanied by a military rabbi. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed late Tuesday night that the body had been identified as Chen’s.
Chen’s father, Ruby Chen—one of the leading public advocates for the return of Israeli hostages—wrote on X: “Day 760. Itay has come home.” He and his wife, Hagit, had campaigned tirelessly for their son's return.
Itay Chen served in the 77th Battalion's “Team Perez" and fought alongside his tank crew on the morning of the October 7 Hamas-led assault, as hundreds of terrorists stormed into Israeli territory. Three of the crew were taken hostage to Gaza: commander Capt. Daniel Perez, who was buried last month; tank gunner Matan Angrest, who survived captivity and was released last month; and Chen, whose remains were returned on Tuesday. The fourth crew member, Sgt. Tomer Leibovitz, was killed in battle that day.
Angrest posted a tribute to Chen on Wednesday morning: “I haven’t stopped thinking about you. You finally came back, my brother.”
First published: 17:55, 11.05.25