The Hamas terror group on Saturday night transferred the bodies of two Israeli hostages to the IDF, via the Red Cross.
The transfer follows a Saturday evening promise by Hamas' military wing that it would transfer the bodies of two deceased hostages to Israel at 10:00 p.m. local time.
Around 10:50 p.m., the IDF confirmed that the Red Cross was on its way to the meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where several coffins of deceased hostages were transferred into its custody and later taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.
Kibbutz Nir Oz confirmed early Sunday morning that one of the bodies is that of its member Ronen Engel, who was murdered while defending his family and fighting terrorists on the morning of October 7.
“Ronen, 54, married to Karina, father to Tom, Mika, and Yuval, and brother to Danny, was a photographer, a dedicated Magen David Adom volunteer, a lover of hiking and off-road biking, a vintage collector, and above all - a true friend. He went out to defend his family when the first terrorist squad broke into their home and engaged in combat, during which he fell and was taken,” the kibbutz said in a statement.
“Ronen was a devoted father, an animal lover, an optimistic person who always looked on the bright side, cheerful and smiling. In recent years, he volunteered as an emergency medical responder with Magen David Adom alongside his work as a water engineer. In the kibbutz, he worked in the chicken coop and restored vintage furniture and items.”
“We will always remember Ronen as a devoted family man, incurably optimistic, with a sense of humor and a constant smile, who always listened and helped those around him. Today, the circle of the Engel family - most of whom were kidnapped on October 7 - has closed.”
"The IDF requests that the public act with sensitivity and wait for the official identification, which will first be provided to the families of the hostages," the statement added. "Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages."
According to the terror group, the bodies were located in Gaza earlier on Saturday.
Israeli sources have said that Hamas definitely knows the locations of several more deceased hostages and can easily access them. It is estimated that at least eight more hostages could be released immediately, if the terror group chose to do so.
If the bodies transferred Saturday are indeed identified as those of Israeli hostages, the terror group is still holding the bodies of 16 deceased hostages. The IDF estimates that additional transfers will be made within the coming days.
Earlier on Saturday evening, the Prime Minister's Office responded to the delays in Hamas' return of the bodies, announcing that the Rafah Crossing will remain closed until further notice.
"Its opening will be weighed in accordance with the way Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and in the implementation of the agreed-upon plan," a statement read.
The Hostages Families Forum praised the decision, but said, "At the same time, the Israeli government must not rely on the mediators - it must show a strong position against Hamas and demand the return of all 18 hostages, with no exceptions, and use all leverage it has. The government must declare that it will not continue to implement the agreement until all of the deceased hostages have been returned, in accordance with Trump's plan."