The families of former Gaza hostages Ouriel Baruch, Eitan Levy and Tamir Nimrodi, posted statements on social media after Israel's forensic research laboratory confirmed the identities.

The identity of a fourth body returned by the Palestinian militants late Tuesday is yet to be confirmed.

The remains were transferred to the Red Cross and then returned to Israel, the latest step in implementing a ceasefire deal after two years of war in Gaza.

"It is with immense sadness and pain that we announce the return of the body of our beloved Ouriel Baruch from the Gaza Strip, after two long years of prayer, hope, and faith," said the family of the Jerusalem resident who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, at the Nova festival at the age of 35.

Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levy's relatives also announced the return of their remains to Israel.

"It is with a broken heart and unbearable grief that we announce that the body of Tamir, my eldest and beloved son, was brought back from Gaza (yesterday)", Tamir's father Alon Nimrodi wrote on Facebook.

Tamir was a soldier captured at age 18 from a military base on the border with Gaza.

Eitan Levy's family announced the return of the remains of the 53-year-old cab driver who was killed after dropping off a friend at Kibbutz Beeri on the morning of the Hamas attack. His remains were taken into Gaza the same day.

Israel's television channel 12 Wednesday said that the remains of the fourth hostage returned Tuesday were that of a Gaza resident, which authorities did not immediately confirm.