Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had received human remains handed over by Palestinian militants to the Red Cross, although it remains uncertain if they belong to any of the three hostages still missing in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the remains would undergo forensic testing and identification.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the remains earlier in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. This handover is part of the recent ceasefire agreement, which both sides have accused the other of violating.
Under the ceasefire deal 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 detainees held by Israel. The agreement 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 sets of remains. The remaining hostages are thought to include two Israelis and a Thai man. In response, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians to Gaza, with many still awaiting identification.
Hamas has cited difficulties in retrieving all the remains due to them being buried under debris from Israel’s previous military actions. Israel has criticized the militants for delays and threatened military action or withholding aid if all remains are not returned promptly, considering it a violation of the ceasefire.
In related developments, Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV reported that Egypt recently hosted a meeting involving mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire deal. The meeting, attended by high-ranking officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, focused on efforts to implement the next phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for post-war Gaza.
Hamas representatives, led by Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in discussions with Egyptian officials in Cairo to determine the next steps of Trump’s plan, which includes establishing a transitional governing authority for Gaza and a multinational security force. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the truce and hindering the progress outlined in Trump’s plan.