The Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday that the remains of a hostage in Gaza have been transferred to Israel as part of the ongoing U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts. This development follows the return of 20 hostages’ remains by Hamas since the ceasefire began on October 10. Pending forensic analysis to confirm the latest remains, seven bodies are still awaiting repatriation from Gaza.
The ceasefire aims to de-escalate the intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, marking a significant step in easing tensions. Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas’s military wing announced the recovery of an Israeli soldier’s body in Gaza, signaling their intention to hand over the remains. However, Israel has not specified whether the retrieved remains belong to a soldier.
In a gradual process, Gaza militants have been releasing one to three bodies every few days, with Israel urging for a swift return of all hostages. Some remains previously returned were found not to be those of hostages, complicating the identification process. Hamas cited challenges due to widespread destruction in Gaza.
Under the ceasefire terms, for each hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. To date, around 270 Palestinian bodies have been repatriated, with less than half identified. The forensic identification process is hindered by the lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, prompting the Health Ministry to share photos of the remains online in hopes of aiding family recognition.
The conflict was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and 251 individuals taken hostage according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign that led to the deaths of over 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel has refuted claims of genocide in Gaza but has not provided alternative casualty figures to counter those released by the ministry.