Meanwhile, Al Jazeera quoted Hamas as saying that in return for providing all necessary information to mediators and to Israel for the successful return of all the captives held in Gaza, Israel must keep up its end of the bargain.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Monday that Israel must not advance to the next phase of its hostage agreement with Hamas until the remains of the last hostage, Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, is returned home.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog sharply criticized New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, for comments he described as "outrageous" and harmful to Jewish communities during a speech at Yeshiva University in New York City. Herzog said the mayor-elect's remarks questioning Jews' right to
"The entire Israeli people are grateful to President Trump for leading a courageous deal to free the hostages. We support him and strengthen his hand in efforts to implement the steps of the plan. I expect all parties to vote in favor of the president's plan," Lapid said.
Mollel, 21, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack.
"The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Mollel family and all the families of the fallen hostages," Netanyahu's office said.
India expressed its support for the Gaza Peace Plan, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying it could lead to a "durable and lasting solution." During talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in New Delhi, he also welcomed the return of hostages and victims' remains.
The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) reported that three coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages are currently being escorted by its forces, and they recently crossed the border into Israel.
Following the release of two fallen hostages by Hamas earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Thursday night that the remains were confirmed to be Sahar Baruch and Amiram Cooper.
Israeli authorities say the body returned by Hamas last night may not belong to any of the remaining 13 deceased hostages. After hours of examination at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, the remains have yet to be identified.
Israeli authorities say the body returned by Hamas last night may not belong to any of the remaining 13 deceased hostages. After hours of examination at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, the remains have yet to be identified.