Tel aviv: The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that one of the four bodies returned by the Palestinian group Hamas under a Gaza ceasefire agreement did not match any of the known hostages. This discrepancy has raised questions and concerns amid ongoing negotiations and exchanges between the two sides.

According to Anadolu Agency, a military statement revealed that examinations conducted at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine determined the identity mismatch of the fourth body handed over by Hamas. The Israeli army has urged Hamas to make all necessary efforts to ensure the return of the deceased hostages.

Hamas has not yet commented on this claim from Israel. The return of the bodies occurred as part of a broader agreement, which saw the release of 20 living Israeli hostages and the transfer of four captives' bodies in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This exchange was the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israel's public broadcaster, KAN, reported that four additional bodies are expected to be returned to Israel on Wednesday. This development follows an announcement last week by US President Donald Trump, who stated that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire plan. This plan, proposed on September 29, aims to cease hostilities in Gaza, facilitate the exchange of captives, and initiate a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

The second phase of the plan involves establishing a new governing mechanism in Gaza, excluding Hamas, forming a multinational force, and disarming Hamas. Since October 2023, Israeli actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of nearly 68,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and have significantly impacted the livability of the region.