Israel receives hostage remains amid fragile Gaza ceasefire

Israel confirmed it received human remains handed over by Palestinian militants to the International Committee of the Red Cross, though it remains unclear if they belong to one of the three hostages still held in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the remains will undergo forensic testing and identification. The transfer is the latest under last month’s fragile ceasefire, which has largely held despite mutual accusations of violations, AP reports.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad said the remains were discovered earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. Under the ceasefire agreement, militants have returned 25 bodies of hostages since October 10, 2023, while Israel has released 330 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, most of which remain unidentified. The remaining hostages are reported to be two Israelis and a Thai national.

Israel has pressured Hamas to expedite the return of hostages’ remains, accusing militants of delays and threatening to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned. Netanyahu’s office described the delay as a ceasefire violation.

Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. Families contend with heavy winter rains while aid trickles in, with shortages of food and essential supplies persisting. Palestinian officials have struggled to identify returned bodies due to limited access to DNA testing kits, with only 95 bodies officially identified, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The war began with the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and left over 250 hostages. Since then, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 69,775 Palestinians and injured 170,863, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which reports that women and children comprise the majority of casualties.

Although daily fighting has largely subsided, Israel has conducted targeted strikes in response to alleged ceasefire violations. On November 25, the Health Ministry reported that three people were killed east of Khan Younis, bringing the post-ceasefire death toll to 345. The Israeli military said it targeted “three terrorists” crossing the boundary from Hamas-controlled territory.

The situation remains tense, with ongoing humanitarian challenges and the fate of remaining hostages unresolved.

By Vafa Guliyeva