Four hostages who were killed while in Hamas captivity will be returned to Israel on Thursday as part of the ongoing hostage deal. The IDF is preparing for their transfer.
The process will involve their handover from the Red Cross to the IDF and a military ceremony. There is a lingering question: How will Hamas attempt to manipulate the narrative?
Stage 1: Transfer of remains to the Red Cross
Under the agreement, the Red Cross will receive the remains, as it has in previous instances. It is currently unclear how Hamas will handle the transfer – whether it will stage a cynical release ceremony or engage in other media tactics.
Stage 2: Transfer to the IDF
The remains will be handed over to IDF forces inside the Gaza Strip. Once the transfer is complete, a military ceremony will be held in their honor, featuring caskets draped with Israeli flags and a prayer led by a rabbi.
The remains will then be transported in an orderly and dignified manner in IDF vehicles, accompanied by a military escort to the border. Upon reaching the Israeli border, the escort will be taken over by the Israel Police, and the remains will be transferred directly to the L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv.
The IDF and the police are preparing for the fact that tens of thousands of civilians are expected to stand along the convoy's route from the Gaza Strip to Abu Kabir.
A large number of local authorities announced that they would allow students to leave school to stand as a guard of honor as the convoy carrying the four fallen soldiers returned home.
Stage 3: Identification process
The remains will undergo an identification process at Abu Kabir, which could take up to 48 hours, depending on their condition. The identification and notification of families will be managed by senior IDF Human Resources Command officers and the Hostage Directorate, led by Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Lior Carmeli.
Hamas’s expected response
The IDF is preparing for Hamas to claim that the deaths resulted from Israeli military strikes. Israeli officials have given assurances that all circumstances surrounding the deaths will be thoroughly investigated and transparently reported to the public.
The IDF views the return of the hostages’ remains as a crucial and necessary step for both the state and the bereaved families.
Additionally, preparations are under way for the return of living hostages expected on Saturday.
There will be no terrorist releases on Thursday; the next ones are scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence agencies, including the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), continue monitoring developments in Gaza to provide enhanced security with aerial, ground, and naval support.