Al-Qassam Brigades to Hand Over Bodies of Two Israeli Captives Recovered in Gaza
Gaza City — October 26, 2025
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas, announced on Sunday evening that it will hand over the bodies of two Israeli captives that were recovered earlier today in the Gaza Strip.
In a brief statement, the group said the bodies were found during field operations in areas that had recently witnessed intense Israeli bombardment. The handover is expected to take place at 9 p.m. local time, though details regarding the location or the mediating parties involved have not yet been disclosed.
“The bodies were recovered from a site targeted by the Israeli occupation’s airstrikes,” the Al-Qassam Brigades said in its statement. “We will hand them over through the appropriate humanitarian channels.”
Israeli authorities have not immediately commented on the announcement. The Israeli military (IDF) has previously said that a number of soldiers and civilians remain unaccounted for or are believed to be held in Gaza since the escalation of hostilities that began in October 2023.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is often involved in the transfer of remains and captives in such situations, though it has not yet confirmed its role in the upcoming handover.
The announcement comes amid renewed international efforts to mediate a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate under ongoing military operations.
More details are expected to emerge following the scheduled handover later this evening.
