Hamas delivered two bodies believed to be deceased Israeli captives on Thursday, following a series of Israeli airstrikes that resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties, including women and children, in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the receipt of the bodies through the Red Cross and their transfer to Israel for identification.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living captives held in Gaza in exchange for the release of approximately 250 Palestinians convicted or suspected of security offenses by Israel. Additionally, 1,700 adults and 22 minors detained without charges during the conflict were released.
Hamas also committed to transferring the remains of all 28 deceased captives in return for 360 militants killed by Israeli forces during the war. To date, Hamas has handed over 15 bodies, with Israel expressing impatience over the delay in surrendering the remaining remains, while Hamas cites the time needed to locate and retrieve them.
Families of the captives are eager to provide a proper burial for their loved ones, fearing their remains may be lost amidst the rubble in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians are still unaccounted for in the aftermath of the extensive destruction.
The controversy surrounding the recovery and transfer of bodies has complicated U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to permanently resolve the Gaza conflict. Challenges ahead include the governance of Gaza and Hamas’s disarmament, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Witnesses reported Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling in Gaza, with no reported casualties. The Israeli military stated that its strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure threatening its troops in areas where they are stationed in Gaza. The recent strikes were in response to an attack on Israeli soldiers that resulted in one fatality.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that among the 104 individuals killed in the airstrikes, 46 were children and 20 were women, while Israel maintained that the strikes primarily targeted militants. Gaza residents expressed concerns about the potential resumption of hostilities and the ongoing displacement crisis.
The war has forced the majority of Gaza’s population, over two million people, into displacement, with many reluctant to return home for fear of further displacement.