Israel handed back fifteen more bodies of Palestinians on Wednesday, further complicating the fragile Gaza ceasefire. This came after Hamas released the body of Israeli soldier Staff Sgt Itay Chen, who was killed defending Nahal Oz on October 7 and whose body was taken into Gaza, five months after his death was announced.
Despite ongoing ceasefire violation allegations and strikes on the Strip since the October 10 ceasefire agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross has transported 285 bodies held by Israel to Gaza. Health officials in Gaza face challenges in identifying remains due to a lack of DNA testing kits, while Israel has not disclosed the number or origin of bodies held, returning 15 bodies each time an Israeli hostage’s remains are handed over from Gaza.
The recent exchange of bodies at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis marks a key phase of the U.S.-brokered agreement, requiring Hamas to promptly return all hostage remains. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching terms of the deal, with Hamas returning living hostages to Israel and returning the remains of 21 bodies.
Israeli officials have criticized Hamas for alleged partial remains and staged body discoveries, urging faster returns. Hamas cites challenges in recovering bodies amidst Gaza’s widespread devastation, returning bodies every few days and accusing Israel of firing at civilians and limiting humanitarian aid entry.
Casualties have decreased since the ceasefire, but health officials in Gaza report ongoing deaths from strikes, with Israel acknowledging soldier casualties. The agreement’s next steps hinge on the return of all Israeli hostage remains before progressing to establishing an international stabilization force.
Efforts are underway to define the force’s role, engage Arab nations, and gain broader international backing. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres advocates for Security Council mandate legitimacy for any entity created in Gaza. The conflict, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, has resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, with Israel’s military actions claiming more than 68,800 Palestinian lives, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry records.
While the Hamas-run ministry’s data is generally trusted, Israel disputes it without presenting alternative figures amid accusations of genocide in Gaza.
