Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had received human remains handed over by Palestinian militants to the Red Cross, with uncertainty surrounding whether the remains belonged to one of the three remaining hostages in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the remains would undergo forensic testing and identification.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the remains earlier in the week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp located in central Gaza. This handover marks the latest development following a fragile ceasefire agreement from last month that has managed to hold despite allegations of violations from both sides.
As per the ceasefire agreement reached in October between Hamas and Israel, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages held in Gaza in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees held by Israel. The terms also included the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 Palestinian militants.
To date, Palestinian militants have returned 25 hostage remains, leaving two Israelis and a man from Thailand still unaccounted for. In response, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians to Gaza, with many remaining unidentified.
Hamas cited difficulties in retrieving all the remains promptly, attributing the delays to the rubble from Israel’s previous offensive that has made the process challenging. Israel has criticized the militants for the delays and has issued warnings of potential military action or withholding humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned, deeming the delays as a violation of the ceasefire.
In parallel developments, Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV reported that a follow-up meeting for mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire deal took place, attended by Egypt’s head of intelligence, the Qatari prime minister, and the head of Turkish intelligence. Discussions focused on implementing the second phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for post-war Gaza and addressing challenges, including ceasefire violations, to ensure its stability.
Furthermore, a Hamas delegation, led by exiled chief Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo over the past two days to strategize on advancing Trump’s plan, which proposes a transitional governing authority for Gaza and a multinational security force.
Since the ceasefire commenced on October 10, Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations of truce violations, with both sides alleging resistance to the subsequent steps outlined in Trump’s plan.