Israeli military says the Red Cross has received another set of remains from Gaza terrorists

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Palestinian terrorists on Tuesday handed over human remains to the Red Cross, which will deliver them next to the Israeli military.

It was not immediately clear if the remains were those of one of the three hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip. The remains were expected to be taken to Israel for forensic testing and identification.

The handover is part of last month's ceasefire that has held despite Israeli strikes on Gaza and mutual accusations of violations.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced it found the body earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. Hamas had earlier said that the body was to be handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon.

Palestinian terrorists have returned 25 bodies of hostages, a slow-going process called for under the truce deal that went into effect on Oct. 10. In return, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza.

Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble. Israel has accused the terrorists of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Tuesday that the delay amounted to a ceasefire violation.

Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

Palestinian officials have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits. Only 95 have been identified, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government.

Israel has not provided details on their identities. The remaining hostages that have yet to be handed over were two Israelis and a man from Thailand.