Israel stated on Saturday that the three bodies handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza do not belong to any hostages, further complicating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. This exchange followed Israel’s return of 30 Palestinians’ bodies to Gaza on Friday, completing a swap after militants previously handed over two hostages’ remains earlier in the week.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the three bodies were not those of hostages, leaving their identities unknown. Hamas’ armed wing mentioned offering samples of unidentified bodies on Friday, but Israel rejected this and requested the bodies for examination instead.
Families and supporters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday, once again demanding the return of all hostages. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 still in Gaza. Despite releasing one or two bodies every few days, Israel has urged for faster progress, citing the challenging circumstances due to widespread destruction and Israeli military presence in some areas.
Israel has been exchanging the unidentified remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage’s remains, amounting to 225 Palestinian bodies returned by Israel since the ceasefire commenced. However, only 75 have been identified by families, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The fragile truce faced a significant test earlier in the week when Israel conducted strikes across Gaza, resulting in over 100 casualties, following the killing of an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza’s southern city.
During the Manama Dialogue security summit, Jordan’s foreign minister warned that Israel’s continued military presence in Gaza jeopardizes the ceasefire. He emphasized the importance of establishing a Palestinian police force for security, backed by an international stabilization force with a UN Security Council mandate.
The U.S. peace plan includes deploying a temporary international stabilization force to secure Gaza’s borders, with multiple nations expressing interest in participating but seeking a clear UN mandate beforehand. The plan excludes American soldiers in Gaza.
Difficult questions remain regarding Hamas’ disarmament, post-war governance in Gaza, and the escalation of humanitarian aid. Indonesia has offered thousands of troops for Gaza, advocating for an independent Palestinian state while ensuring Israel’s safety and security.
The deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the 2023 Hamas-led attack, resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, according to Israeli reports. Gaza’s Health Ministry claims that Israel’s military offensive has killed over 68,600 Palestinians in Gaza, a figure disputed by Israel.