Israel stated on Saturday that the remains of three individuals handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza were not those of any hostages, further complicating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. This handover came after Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza on Friday, completing an exchange following the earlier transfer of two hostages’ remains by militants.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the three individuals’ remains were not those of hostages, leaving their identities unknown. Hamas’ armed wing indicated that they had offered samples of unidentified bodies on Friday, but Israel declined, requesting the remains for examination.
Families and supporters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, urging the return of all hostages. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 still held in Gaza. Israel has been returning the unidentified remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage, totaling 225 bodies returned by Israel so far. However, only 75 of these have been identified by families, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ceasefire faced a significant challenge earlier in the week when Israel conducted strikes across Gaza, resulting in over 100 casualties in response to the killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza’s southern city.
Jordan’s foreign minister cautioned that Israel’s military presence in Gaza jeopardizes the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for a Palestinian police force supported by an international stabilization force with a UN Security Council mandate to maintain security. The U.S. peace plan includes deploying an international stabilization force, excluding American soldiers in Gaza.
Furthermore, discussions revolve around Hamas’ disarmament, postwar governance in Gaza, and the escalation of humanitarian aid. Indonesia has offered to contribute troops for peacekeeping efforts in Gaza, pending a clear UN mandate.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, stemming from the 2023 Hamas-led attack, has been the deadliest and most destructive in history, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. Israel’s military actions have faced scrutiny, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting a substantial death toll, while Israel denies allegations of genocide without providing an alternative figure.