Israel has transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinians, following the return of an Israeli hostage by Hamas. The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transfer to Gaza. Two hostages, one Israeli and one Thai, are believed to still be in Gaza, with Hamas committing to returning them. In Cairo, Turkish, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators met to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire.
The upcoming phases involve deploying an armed International Stabilization Force (ISF) and establishing an international body to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction. The ISF’s primary tasks include maintaining security and ensuring the disarmament of Hamas, as demanded by Israel. Indonesia plans to contribute 20,000 peacekeepers to the ISF.
The timeline and implementation of the ceasefire plan raise significant uncertainties despite its current adherence amid accusations of violations by both parties. Israel has agreed to return 15 Palestinian bodies for each recovered hostage under the truce. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 345 Palestinian bodies have been returned, but only 99 have been identified due to the lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza.
Dror Or, the latest hostage recovered, was mourned by Israel. He and his wife were killed by militants who attacked their community in 2023. The Hostages Families Forum praised Or as a dedicated father, skilled cheesemaker, and former manager of a dairy.
Israeli forces engaged in military operations in Tubas, West Bank, using Apache helicopters and military vehicles to address alleged terrorist activities. The IDF’s actions were in response to attempts to establish terrorist strongholds and infrastructures in the area. The operation in Tubas is part of a broader campaign targeting Palestinian militancy in the West Bank, where Palestinian and Israeli populations coexist under limited self-rule.