Image Credit: picture alliance / Contributor / Getty 
On Wednesday the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that one of the four dead bodies returned to them by Hamas on Tuesday was the wrong dead body. This comes as tensions remain high during the Donald Trump-ceasefire-phase of dead-body-returning. Many residents of Gaza fear that if mistakes are made with the return of the dead, the repercussions will be harsh for the living.
The returned bodies are to have belonged to Israeli hostages kidnapped by the terrorist group Hamas. The deceased had died or been killed while in captivity.
Following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages. Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages.
🟡Following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 15, 2025
Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages.
“Fears are growing among Palestinians in Gaza that a delay by Hamas in handing over the bodies of Israeli hostages could derail the fragile ceasefire, after seven Palestinians were killed earlier today in two separate incidents described by Hamas’s civil defence as Israeli attacks,” the BBC said Tuesday morning. “Many residents tell the BBC they are worried the violence could risk the truce and derail the start of the second phase of negotiations, talks that will determine Gaza’s future governance, the fate of Hamas’s weapons, and the start of reconstruction.”
On Tuesday President Donald Trump said the job is not over until all the hostages are returned, living or dead.
ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED. A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE. THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS
PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!! President DJT
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 12:55 PM EST 10/14/25 pic.twitter.com/inEeqxd79e
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) October 14, 2025
Geopolitical expert Joel Skousen explained (at 2:34:30 into the September 29 Alex Jones Show) how the remains are extremely important to Israel, as many Jews do not believe in the eternal life of the soul after death.
RT gave an update on the four bodied returned on Tuesday:
The other three bodies were confirmed as belonging to the captives. They were identified as Staff Sergeant Tamir Nimrodi, 18, Uriel Baruch, 35, and Eitan Levy, 53, the statement read.
CNN reported on Thursday that Hamas may not be able to return all the bodies, “a fact that may complicate efforts to finalize a deal to end the war.” This is due to Hamas not knowing the location of the bodies, or Hamas being unable to retrieve the remains due to various physical constraints.
The BBC detailed the latest on the difficult body-return effort underway in Gaza:
Hamas says some of the hostages’ bodies remain trapped under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardment, and has requested assistance to locate them.
“We understand it’s gonna take a little while longer, but we’re gonna keep struggling for every single [hostage] to be back home,” Udi says.
“We can’t move forward until we get all of them back.”
