Red Cross vehicles transport the bodies of two deceased hostages after they were handed over by Hamas militants, in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza, on Thursday, October 30. Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

Israel has received the remains of what Hamas earlier said were two deceased hostages held in Gaza. The remains were transferred to Israel via the Red Cross and will be taken to the country’s national forensics laboratory for identification.

If confirmed, that would leave the bodies of 11 deceased hostages remaining in Gaza.

“The effort to bring back our hostages continues uninterrupted and will not cease until the return of the last hostage,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

The transfer of the remains comes just two days after Israel carried out punishing strikes in Gaza in resp

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