Prime Minister’s Office Announcement – 20 October 2025

The Prime Minister’s Office, this evening (Monday, 20 October 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:

Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffin containing the remains of a deceased hostage, which was handed over to an IDF and ISA force inside the Gaza Strip. From there, the coffin will be transferred to Israel, where it will be received in a military ceremony in the presence of an IDF Rabbi.

It will then be transferred to the Health Ministry National Center of Forensic Medicine. Upon completion of the identification process, formal notification will be delivered to the family.

All of the hostages’ families have been updated accordingly, and our hearts are with them in this difficult hour. The effort to return our hostages is ongoing and will not cease until the last hostage is returned.

The public is requested to respect the families’ privacy and to refrain from spreading rumors and unofficial and unverified information.

We will continue to provide updates with reliable information as necessary.