Hamas returns bodies of three more Israeli hostages

The terrorist group handed over the remains of Israeli hostages Asaf Hamami, Omer Maxim Neutra, and Oz Daniel, the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Monday. Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine confirmed the identities of the deceased, the office said.

All three were members of the Israeli military who were killed on Oct 7, 2023. Neutra was a dual Israeli and American citizen originally from New York, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday. Trump said he had spoken to Neutra’s parents. Eight hostages’ remains are still in Gaza.

What’s the latest in Gaza?

• The Israeli military on Monday said it struck a group of terrorists who crossed an agreed-upon ceasefire line and advanced on Israeli troops in southern Gaza. It was unclear whether the militants were affiliated with Hamas.

• An Israeli drone strike also wounded three girls at a wedding in Gaza City, which is divided by the ceasefire line, according to the Tel Aviv-based news outlet Haaretz.

• U.S. Central Command on Friday said one of its drones captured footage of suspected Hamas operatives looting a humanitarian aid truck in southern Gaza. They attacked the driver and stole the supplies and the truck, according to the agency. The driver’s condition was unknown. More than 600 trucks containing aid supplies entered Gaza daily over the past week, Central Command said.

Dig deeper: Read Johanna Huebscher’s report on the return of two other hostages’ bodies.