Palestinian medical authorities have verified that Israel has transferred an additional 15 Palestinian bodies, concluding the latest exchange of remains under the ceasefire agreement. This signifies the near-completion of the initial phase of the accord, with only two bodies of individuals taken as hostages at the start of the conflict still remaining in Gaza.
The transfer occurred following the return of Israeli hostage Dror Or, who was killed by Palestinian militants in an attack on October 7, 2023. To date, Israel has repatriated a total of 345 Palestinian bodies to Gaza since the exchanges commenced last month, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
Presently, there are two hostages – one Israeli and one Thai national – still held in Gaza. Hamas has affirmed its commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the agreement by ensuring the return of both hostages.
Officials from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt convened in Cairo on Wednesday to deliberate on the subsequent phase of the ceasefire, initiated in October and maintaining despite mutual allegations of breaches. The upcoming stages of the agreement involve the deployment of an international stabilization force and the establishment of an international entity to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
An international stabilization force armed with the responsibility of maintaining security and facilitating the disarmament of Hamas, a key Israeli demand, is set to be established. Indonesia has proposed deploying 20,000 peacekeepers to this force. However, uncertainties persist regarding various aspects of the plan and the timeline for its execution.
Meanwhile, the majority of Palestinians remain displaced and reliant on humanitarian aid, while Hamas retains substantial control over a significant portion of Gaza, and reconstruction efforts are yet to gain momentum.
Gaza’s Health Ministry disclosed that out of the 345 bodies returned by Israel, only 99 have been positively identified, citing a shortage of DNA testing kits in Gaza as a complicating factor.
Israel mourned the return of Dror Or, who was tragically killed alongside his wife during the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militants. The Hostages Families Forum recounted the heroic act of the couple in saving their children before being abducted, with the children subsequently released in a hostage exchange in November 2023.
Described as a dedicated father and skilled cheesemaker, Or’s tragic death was part of the series of attacks that resulted in the loss of around 1,200 lives and the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza.
With the return of Or’s remains, nearly all hostages or their remains have been extricated from Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem reiterated the group’s commitment to the safe return of the remaining two hostages, emphasizing the urgency to conclude the exchange.
In a call for action, Qassem urged mediators to press Israel to adhere to the ceasefire terms, highlighting a recent incident where an Israeli military action resulted in the death of a Palestinian civilian in Gaza.
In a separate event, the Israeli military reported a successful operation against a group of militants in Rafah, resulting in the death of one militant. Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza Health Ministry statistics indicated 345 Palestinian casualties and 889 injuries, while around 70,000 individuals have perished in Israel’s offensive in Gaza.