The Israeli army has confirmed the return of four bodies of hostages retrieved from Gaza, which were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas on Monday. The remains were transported to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, where identification procedures are set to take place.
This handover forms part of a ceasefire agreement facilitated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at reducing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. On the same day, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages it had held since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, 2023.
In exchange for the release of these hostages, Israel has reportedly freed 1,968 prisoners, primarily Palestinians, according to the Israeli prison service. However, Hamas has yet to return the remains of 24 deceased hostages, an obligation it has committed to fulfill as part of the ongoing ceasefire terms.
The Israeli military emphasized the importance of Hamas adhering to the agreement, urging the group to take necessary actions for the return of all deceased individuals still in its possession.
This recent exchange follows an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel in 2023, which led to the escalation of war in the Gaza region. During that attack, Hamas abducted 251 individuals and took them to Gaza. Most of these hostages, including those later confirmed deceased, were released during two prior truces negotiated over the last two years. Nevertheless, 47 hostages remained in captivity until the latest ceasefire, which recently came into effect.
Additionally, the remains of an Israeli soldier, killed during a previous conflict in 2014, continue to be held in Gaza, further complicating the hostages’ situation and ongoing negotiations.
