Israel returned fifteen more Palestinian bodies on Wednesday in the ongoing process of handing over corpses, which has been affecting the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
This action followed the release of the body of Israeli soldier Staff Sgt Itay Chen by Hamas. Sgt Chen was killed defending Nahal Oz on October 7, and his body was taken into Gaza, with his death being announced five months later.
Despite claims of ceasefire violations and strikes on the Strip since the ceasefire agreement on October 10, the International Committee of the Red Cross has transferred 285 bodies from Israeli custody to Gaza.
Health officials in Gaza face challenges identifying remains due to a lack of DNA testing kits. Israel has not disclosed the number or locations of the bodies it holds but has been returning fifteen bodies each time a deceased Israeli hostage is returned from Gaza.
The recent exchange took place at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, a day after Palestinian militants handed over Sgt Chen. These exchanges are a crucial part of the U.S.-brokered agreement, requiring Hamas to promptly return all hostage remains.
Despite accusations of breaching the agreement’s terms, exchanges have proceeded. Hamas returned 20 living hostages to Israel on October 13 and has also returned the remains of 21 bodies.
Israeli officials have accused Hamas of providing incomplete remains in some cases and staging discoveries of bodies in others, pushing for faster returns and questioning the identities of the remains in certain instances.
Hamas has cited challenges in recovering bodies due to widespread devastation in Gaza, returning one to three bodies every few days. They accuse Israel of targeting civilians and impeding humanitarian aid access into Gaza.
While the ceasefire has reduced casualties, health officials in Gaza continue to report deaths from strikes, with Israel confirming soldier casualties as well.
The agreement’s progress hinges on the return of all Israeli hostage remains before proceeding to subsequent phases. Future steps include establishing an international stabilization force, with ongoing efforts to define its composition and role.
The conflict, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Israel’s military offensive has caused over 68,800 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry, under Hamas administration, maintains detailed, reliable records of casualties. Israel refutes accusations of genocide in Gaza but has not provided contradicting casualty figures.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of international legitimacy for any entity created in Gaza, calling for a mandate from the Security Council.