Israel announced on Tuesday that it had received human remains from Palestinian militants via the Red Cross, but it remained uncertain if the remains belonged to any of the three hostages still missing in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the remains would undergo forensic testing and identification.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the remains earlier in the week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. This handover is part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement from last month, which has been largely upheld despite allegations of violations by both sides.
As per the October agreement 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 deal also specified the return of 28 hostages’ remains in exchange for the remains of 360 Palestinian militants.
To date, Palestinian militants have returned 25 bodies of hostages, with the remaining three hostages believed to include two Israelis and a Thai national. In response, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians to Gaza, many of which remain unidentified.
Hamas has cited difficulties in retrieving all the remains due to them being buried under rubble from past Israeli military actions. Israel has criticized the delay and warned of potential military action or withholding humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned promptly, branding the delay as a breach of the ceasefire.
In parallel, Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV reported that Egypt recently hosted a follow-up meeting for mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire deal, attended by intelligence officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Discussions focused on implementing the second phase of President Donald Trump’s post-war Gaza plan, addressing challenges like ceasefire violations, and ensuring the deal’s stability.
Additionally, a Hamas delegation, led by exiled leader Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo to strategize the next steps in Trump’s plan, including establishing a transitional governing authority for Gaza and a multinational security force. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations of violating the truce and resisting subsequent steps outlined in Trump’s plan.