Four deceased hostages’ coffins have entered Israel, as confirmed by the Israeli military on Tuesday. The bodies are en route to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine for identification procedures, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement posted online.
Israel reduced aid to Gaza following Hamas’ failure to hand over the remaining hostages’ bodies as agreed in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Local health authorities in Gaza announced receiving 45 bodies of Palestinians detained by Israel earlier on Tuesday.
The IDF emphasized Hamas’ obligation to honor the agreement and return all hostages promptly. Israel informed the United Nations that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would stay closed until Wednesday due to the unfulfilled body handover by Hamas.
The process of repatriating deceased hostages from Gaza faced delays after Hamas surrendered only four bodies out of the 28. The Hostages Family Forum criticized Hamas for violating the agreement, describing it as a significant breach.
Two of the returned bodies were identified by the Israeli military as Guy Illouz from Israel and Bipin Joshi from Nepal. Illouz succumbed to untreated wounds, while Joshi was reportedly murdered during captivity in the early stages of the conflict.
Gaza health authorities received 45 Palestinian bodies from Israel, with efforts ongoing to identify and release the names for families to claim their loved ones. The bodies showed signs of mistreatment, including torture and bound hands, with uncertainties surrounding the circumstances of their demise.
Despite the ceasefire, Gaza reported seven fatalities from Israeli fire, sparking accusations of ceasefire violations. The ceasefire terms entail Israeli forces withdrawing to pre-offensive positions, leaving certain neighborhoods under Israeli control and warning against reoccupation attempts.
The long-term peace prospects in Gaza raise challenges concerning disarmament, governance, reconstruction, and statehood. International leaders convened in Egypt to address the region’s future, emphasizing the need to overcome old conflicts and work towards sustainable peace.