Jerusalem, Oct. 21 -- Israel has received, via the Red Cross, the coffin of an unidentified Israeli hostage held in Gaza, the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday.

The statement said the coffin was handed over to the Israeli army and the Shin Bet domestic security agency inside Gaza and will be transferred to Israel.

The body will undergo identification at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, after which the family will be notified.

Israel estimates that 28 hostages have died in captivity.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from United News of India....