The three bodies were identified as 18-year-old Tamir Nimrodi, 35-year-old Uriel Baruch and 53-year-old Eitan Levy.
The fourth body, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), does not belong to any of the hostages. It is estimated to belong to a Palestinian.
A Hamas spokesman told Al Jazeera that the body, which “does not belong to an Israeli,” is that of a “Palestinian collaborator” and “Israeli soldier” who allegedly fell into the hands of the militants in May 2024 in the Jabaliya area.
The Times of Israel draws attention to the fact that at that time, Hamas’ statement about the “capture of an Israeli fighter” was denied by the IDF, emphasizing that there were no incidents involving the abduction of a fighter.
The Israeli publication writes that Hamas then distributed a video with a bloodied man and an image of submachine guns, which are not used by the Israeli army.
Palestinian media then identified the man as Khalil Dawas, a Palestinian from the Aqabat Jabr camp in the West Bank. Reports said Dawas had previously been detained by Israel.
In February, Hamas already handed over the body of another person instead of an Israeli hostage.
