Hamas reports recovering remains of hostage in Rafah

By Emanuel Fabian

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8 November 2025, 4:22 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

A Red Cross convoy carrying the body of a deceased hostage handed over by Palestinians terrorists makes its way toward the border crossing with Israel, to be transferred to Israeli authorities, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, November 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A senior source in the military wing of Hamas tells Al Jazeera that the body of a hostage was recovered in southern Gaza’s Rafah today.

The outlet names the hostage. However, most Israeli media outlets generally refrain from publishing the names until the families of the hostages have been notified.

Earlier today, it was reported that Red Cross and Hamas members were headed to the Jenina neighborhood of Rafah to search for the body of an Israeli hostage.

Jenina, which is on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line — meaning IDF-held territory — is where some 150 Hamas operatives are assessed by the IDF to be holed up in a tunnel network.

Defense officials said earlier this week that the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin is being held in the area, though the IDF denied having any intelligence indicating that the remains are being held in the tunnel with the trapped gunmen.