Tel Aviv, 16 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Palestinian militant organization Hamas handed over the remains of two more hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday, but said it is currently unable to recover the remaining bodies.

The Israeli military said late on Wednesday that two coffins were transferred to ICRC staff and later escorted by its forces into Israel, where forensic experts would carry out "identification procedures."

Under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist group, Hamas is required to hand over a total of 28 bodies. Hamas has so far handed over 10 sets of remains. However, one of the bodies released does not match any of the missing deceased hostages, according to Israel.

The Palestinian group released the last 20 living hostages on Monday after 738 days in captivity. Four of the dead were also returned that day.

On Wednesday, Hamas said it has handed over all the bodies of hostages it is currently able to access and has therefore fulfilled its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

"The remaining bodies of the prisoners require significant efforts and special equipment to search for and retrieve them, and we are making great efforts to close this file," the statement said.

Many of the hostage remains are believed to be buried under the ruins of bombed buildings or in tunnel shafts, after two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Israel continues to insist on the return of all dead hostages.

Delays with the return of the remains are stoking fresh fears for the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

US President Donald Trump, who helped broker the ceasefire, on Wednesday told broadcaster CNN that "what's going on with Hamas... [will] be straightened out quickly" and that he would consider allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume the fighting if Hamas doesn't uphold its end of the agreement.

Israel says one body was not a hostage

The Israeli military on Wednesday said that a genetic test at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine showed that one body transferred late on Tuesday did not match any of the missing deceased hostages.

Israeli media reports suggested it could be the body of a Palestinian.

"Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages," the military said.

During a previous ceasefire in February, Hamas handed over the body of a Gazan instead of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, a mother who was abducted along with her two young sons, an incident that sparked outrage in Israel. Her body was returned a day later and positively identified.

Israeli authorities have suggested the delays may be a tactic and threatened to restrict aid and keep the Rafah border crossing with Egypt closed until all the hostages' bodies are transferred.

Photo: Al Jazeera screenshot