Israel stated on Saturday that the three bodies Hamas handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza were not those of hostages, marking a setback in the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire. This exchange followed Israel’s return of 30 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Friday to complete a previous swap that involved militants providing the remains of two hostages earlier in the week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the three bodies were not hostages, but it remained unknown to whom they belonged.
Hamas’ armed wing mentioned offering samples of unidentified bodies on Friday, which Israel declined, requesting the bodies for examination instead. The statement from Hamas indicated that the bodies were handed over to refute Israel’s claims. Health officials in Gaza have faced challenges in identifying bodies due to a lack of DNA kits.
In Tel Aviv, families and supporters gathered on Saturday night to demand the return of all hostages. Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 still in Gaza. The releases have been gradual, with one or two bodies returned every few days, prompting Israel to call for swifter progress. Hamas cited difficulties due to extensive damage and Israeli military presence in certain areas.
Israel has been returning the unidentified remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage’s remains. The total number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel since the ceasefire commenced now stands at 225, with only 75 identified by families according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The circumstances of these individuals’ deaths remain unclear, whether they were killed in Israel during the initial Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, died in Israeli custody, or were recovered from Gaza during the conflict.
The ceasefire faced a significant challenge earlier in the week when Israel conducted airstrikes across Gaza following the killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza’s southern city, resulting in over 100 casualties. Jordan’s foreign minister expressed concerns at the Manama Dialogue security summit, warning that Israel’s military presence in Gaza jeopardizes the ceasefire. He emphasized the necessity of a Palestinian police force overseeing security, supported by an international stabilization force with a UN Security Council mandate.
The U.S. peace plan includes deploying a temporary international stabilization force comprising Arab and other partners to work on securing Gaza’s borders and enforcing the ceasefire. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Israeli officials to discuss these matters. Various nations have expressed interest in contributing to a peacekeeping force but have requested a clear UN mandate before committing troops.
Other contentious issues include Hamas’ disarmament, postwar governance in Gaza, and the timing and method of increasing humanitarian aid. Indonesia has offered to deploy thousands of troops to Gaza, but details and terms of reference remain unclear pending a UN Security Council mandate. Indonesian officials have also advocated for an independent Palestinian state while emphasizing the importance of ensuring Israel’s safety and security.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with the 2023 Hamas-led attack that resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, is considered the deadliest and most destructive confrontation between the two parties. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 68,600 Palestinian fatalities due to Israel’s military offensive, a figure disputed by Israel, which denies accusations of genocide in Gaza.