Key facts
- Hamas announced the death of Military Council member Farah Hamed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on Wednesday.
- Hamed was deported to Gaza in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange for Gilad Shalit.
- Israel confirmed the identities of three deceased hostages, Col Asaf Hamami, Capt Omer Neutra, and Staff Sgt Oz Daniel, whose bodies were returned by Hamas.
- The bodies of the three hostages were handed over via the Red Cross on Sunday.
- Hamas stated the bodies were found in a tunnel in southern Gaza.
- Hamed hailed from Silwad, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas announced on Wednesday that Farah Hamed, a member of its Military Council of the al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. Hamed, who originated from Silwad in the West Bank, was deported to the Gaza Strip in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Palestinian media reports indicated that Hamed died due to Israeli shelling on Al-Rashid Street in the Sheikh Ajlin area, southwest of Gaza City.
Separately, Israel confirmed on Sunday the identities of three deceased hostages whose bodies were returned by Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza. Forensic tests identified the remains as those of soldiers Col Asaf Hamami, 40, Capt Omer Neutra, 21, and Staff Sgt Oz Daniel, 19. The confirmation means eight dead Israeli and foreign hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas's armed wing stated the bodies were found along the route of a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip before being transferred to Israeli forces. The Israeli prime minister's office stated that the Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return all hostages.
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