Israel returned fifteen more bodies of Palestinians on Wednesday, extending the somber handover of corpses amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire. This action followed the release of the deceased body of Israeli soldier Staff Sgt Itay Chen by Hamas. Sgt Chen was killed defending Nahal Oz on October 7, and his body was transported into Gaza, with his death being announced five months later.
Despite allegations of ceasefire breaches and strikes on the Strip since the ceasefire agreement on October 10, the handover of bodies has persisted. The International Committee of the Red Cross has facilitated the transfer of 285 bodies detained by Israel to Gaza since the agreement was brokered.
Health officials in Gaza have reported challenges in identifying remains due to a shortage of DNA testing kits. Israel has not disclosed the number or locations of the bodies in its custody but has been returning fifteen bodies each time an Israeli hostage’s remains are handed back from Gaza.
The latest batch of fifteen bodies was delivered to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Wednesday, following the handover of Sgt Chen by Palestinian militants in Gaza. These exchanges are a crucial aspect of the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered deal, mandating that Hamas promptly return all hostage remains.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating other terms of the agreement, yet the exchanges have proceeded. Hamas returned 20 living hostages to Israel on October 13 and has since handed over the remains of 21 bodies.
Israeli authorities have raised concerns about partial remains being handed over by Hamas and alleged staging of body discoveries. Hamas, citing challenges due to extensive damage in Gaza, has been returning one to three bodies every few days while criticizing Israel for firing at civilians and restricting humanitarian aid access.
Although casualties have decreased since the ceasefire, Gaza health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and militants, have continued to report deaths from strikes, while Israel acknowledges soldier fatalities.
The transition to subsequent phases of the agreement hinges on the return of all Israeli hostage remains. The following steps involve establishing an international stabilization force, with details yet to be finalized. Efforts are underway to define the force’s composition, engage Arab nations, and garner broader international backing.
The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has led to over 68,800 Palestinian deaths in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry, overseen by the Hamas government, maintains detailed and generally trusted records, contrasting with Israel’s rejection of allegations of genocide in Gaza without offering alternative casualty figures.