Reports: Latest coffin Hamas returned does not hold missing hostage

The latest coffin handed over to Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas is believed to hold remains of a hostage who was already returned, Israeli media outlets reported on Tuesday.

If the latest remains are not identified as those of a hostage still missing, this would mean 13 hostages’ bodies remain in Gaza.

Neither the Israeli military nor the government commented when asked about the reports.

The remains, which were handed over on Monday, were to be forensically examined once they arrived in Israel. The Times of Israel reported, citing the relevant authorities, that the identification process could take up to two days.

In previous cases, however, the identities of the remains have been determined within a few hours of their arrival in Israel.

As part of the first phase of the US-led peace plan between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group is required to hand over a total of 28 bodies.

Hamas released all living hostages on October 13 in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.