Hamas has handed over the remains of one of the final two deceased hostages in Gaza, as confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross in accordance with the terms of the October ceasefire agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Israeli forces in Gaza have received items labeled as “findings” for forensic analysis in Israel.
The two remaining deceased hostages are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated a two-year devastating conflict in Gaza. The ICRC, based in Geneva, has been facilitating the negotiation and transfer of living hostages and deceased remains between Gaza militant groups and Israel throughout the war prompted by the attack.
According to local officials, an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, resulted in the death of a Palestinian identified as freelance journalist Mahmoud Wadi. The Israeli military alleged that Wadi was involved in the October 2023 Hamas attack, citing photographic evidence. Another Palestinian journalist was injured in the same Israeli strike, as reported by Gaza authorities.
Subsequently, the Palestinian Civil Defence service reported that two individuals were killed and 15 others injured when Israeli tank shells struck a house in a Gaza City suburb. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.
The conflict in Gaza began following an attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages, as per Israeli records. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that over 70,000 individuals, primarily civilians, have been killed in Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Since the ceasefire on October 10, Israel has continued its military operations in Gaza, targeting what it claims to be Hamas infrastructure. Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. At least 357 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, with three Israeli soldiers reported killed during this period by Palestinian militants, according to Israeli authorities.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) documented the deaths of 201 journalists and media personnel in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon following the initial attack in 2023. Among the casualties were journalists working for Reuters. The CPJ highlighted that Israel has not conducted a formal investigation or held anyone accountable for the killings of journalists by its military.
The Israeli military spokesperson emphasized that Israeli forces target combatants and military installations, endeavor to avoid civilian casualties, and caution about the risks of staying in active combat areas even with efforts to mitigate harm. Allegations have been made, without substantiated evidence, that some journalists were targeted due to their affiliations with Hamas, which their news organizations have denied.