Israel Confirms Remains Not Linked to Hostages, Moves to Open Rafah Crossing for Gaza Exits

Israel said today that forensic tests confirmed the remains handed over from Gaza yesterday via the Red Cross do not belong to either of the two fallen hostages still held.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that “following a completed identification process at the National Center of Forensic Medicine, it was found that the remains brought yesterday from the Gaza Strip are not linked to any of the fallen hostages.” Officials said the families of the two hostages had been notified and emphasized that “the effort to bring them home will not cease until the mission is complete — to bring them to a proper burial in their land.” The bodies of Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak are still being held in Gaza.

The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said this morning that its operatives are continuing efforts to locate “the body of a fallen hostage in northern Gaza, accompanied by a team from the Red Cross.” 

At the same time, Israel is preparing to open the Rafah Crossing to allow Gazan residents to leave for Egypt in the coming days. COGAT, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said the move was approved “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and under the direction of the political leadership,” referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously frozen the step due to delays in returning the hostages’ remains.

According to COGAT, “exit of residents through the Rafah Crossing will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, after security approval by Israel and under the supervision of a European Union mission, similar to the mechanism operated in January 2025.” Entry from Egypt into Gaza will not be allowed at this stage, and the goods corridor remains closed. The daily quota for departures will be determined later in coordination with Egypt.

The mechanism for opening Rafah is based on the 20-point plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which states: “Humanitarian aid will be distributed through the UN and its agencies, the Red Crescent, and additional international bodies that are not affiliated with either side. Opening the Rafah Crossing in both directions will be done according to the same mechanism.”

The crossing was originally meant to open six weeks ago, but Israel delayed implementation over Hamas’ ceasefire violations and the unresolved issue of the hostages’ remains.