Israeli authorities confirmed that militants in the Gaza Strip have handed over a body believed to be that of a hostage. The body was transferred to the Red Cross, which subsequently delivered it to Israel, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This event marks the latest development in ongoing exchanges that have taken place since a ceasefire began on October 10, 2023.
Islamic Jihad, aligned with Hamas, reported that the body was recovered in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire commenced, Israel has received the remains of 24 hostages. Should this latest body be confirmed as that of a hostage, three more individuals will still need to be recovered from Gaza.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel has been releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for every hostage recovered. The Gazan health ministry noted that a total of 315 remains have been received so far. The process of recovering bodies has been complicated by the extensive devastation in the region, as stated by Hamas. Israel has expressed urgency in expediting these returns, with officials claiming that some remains returned were not those of hostages.
The identity of the body handed over has not been specified and will undergo examination at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv. Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, Hamas successfully returned 20 living hostages to Israel on October 13. The dead body exchanges form a core component of a broader US-brokered agreement, which aims for Hamas to return all hostage remains as swiftly as possible.
Accusations have flown between Israel and Hamas regarding violations of the ceasefire terms. Israeli officials allege that Hamas has occasionally handed over partial remains and staged the discovery of bodies. Conversely, Hamas has charged Israel with targeting civilians and impeding humanitarian aid within Gaza.
Although the number of casualties has decreased since the ceasefire took effect, Gazan officials continue to report deaths from military strikes. Israeli sources have also indicated that their soldiers have been killed in militant attacks. Compounding the difficulties, Gazan health officials have indicated that identifying the remains returned by Israel is challenging due to a lack of DNA testing kits.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that subsequent phases will not commence until all Israeli hostage remains are returned. The next steps in the 20-point plan involve establishing an international stabilization force, with discussions ongoing to define its role and garner support from Arab nations and the international community.
This agreement seeks to de-escalate the conflict that began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a significant military offensive, which, according to the Gazan health ministry, has resulted in over 69,100 Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza Strip.
