Israel confirmed on Sunday the transfer of the remains of three hostages from Gaza for forensic examination, amidst a tentative ceasefire in place for a month. The announcement came after Hamas disclosed the discovery of the remains in a tunnel in southern Gaza earlier in the day.
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, leaving 11 more in Gaza until the recent handover. The process has seen militants releasing one or two bodies every few days. Israel has pressed for quicker progress, at times disputing the identity of the remains handed over. Hamas has cited challenges due to widespread destruction in the region.
Israel’s military stated that official identification of the remains would be shared with the families first. Emotions have run high among the families, who continue to gather regularly. A friend of one of the deceased hostages, Moran Harari, called for restraint during a rally in Jerusalem on Saturday night.
In a reciprocal gesture, Israel has released the remains of 15 Palestinians in exchange for the return of an Israeli hostage’s remains. Health officials in Gaza have faced difficulties in identifying bodies due to the lack of access to DNA kits. Out of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire, only 75 have been identified by Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has resorted to posting photos in hopes of families recognizing them.
The remains exchanged are believed to be connected to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 that initiated the conflict. This exchange forms a crucial aspect of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire’s initial phase, which includes plans for an international stabilization force to secure Gaza’s borders with the assistance of Arab and other partners.
Amidst ongoing discussions about Hamas’ disarmament, postwar governance in Gaza, and the escalation of humanitarian aid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the need to eliminate remaining Hamas elements in parts of Gaza under Israeli control.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, described as the deadliest and most destructive, commenced with the 2023 attack by Hamas, resulting in significant casualties and hostages. Israel’s military operations have led to a high number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza, with discrepancies in reported figures and denial of genocide accusations by Israel.