Israel confirmed on Saturday that three bodies it received from Gaza the previous night are not hostages held in the Palestinian territory. This announcement came alongside reports from a Hamas security source detailing fresh airstrikes in southern Gaza.
Since October 10, a fragile truce has been in effect in Gaza, following a US-brokered agreement focused on the return of Israeli hostages, both dead and alive. The Israeli military informed AFP that forensic analysis determined the three bodies received through the Red Cross on Friday were not those of any of the hostages still awaiting return as part of the ceasefire arrangement.
In response, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, stated that they had handed over the bodies, which they had not positively identified, claiming that Israel had rejected their offer to provide samples for testing and instead insisted on examining the bodies themselves. The Brigades emphasized their intention to “preempt any enemy claims” through this decision.
Following the truce, Hamas has successfully returned 20 surviving hostages and initiated the process of repatriating the remains of deceased individuals. Of the 17 bodies sent back since the agreement commenced, 15 were Israeli, while the others included one Thai and one Nepalese. In addition, Hamas returned an unidentified body that had not been previously included in the list of 28 missing, as well as partial remains of a deceased Israeli hostage that had already been recovered.
The situation remains tense, with Israel accusing Hamas of delaying the return of deceased hostages. In contrast, Hamas claims it takes time to locate remains buried amidst the extensive destruction in Gaza. The Al-Qassam Brigades called on mediators and the Red Cross to provide the necessary resources and personnel to facilitate the simultaneous recovery of all bodies.
As the situation unfolds, both sides have exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire. A Hamas security source reported that Israeli forces conducted several airstrikes in southern Gaza and that “warships opened fire” near the shores of Khan Yunis. Earlier in the week, the Israeli military executed a series of bombings after one of its soldiers was killed in the area, with local civil defense sources reporting over 100 fatalities.
Residents like Hisham al-Bardai, who recently returned to his home in north Gaza’s Jabalia camp, described hearing gunfire from Israeli forces during the night. He noted that while the truce had commenced, the conflict endures, lamenting the ongoing Israeli blockade that has strained supplies to Gaza, despite a slight easing following the ceasefire.
Many Gazans have begun returning to areas previously deemed unsafe, even amid significant destruction. Al-Bardai recounted finding only ruins where his home once stood, highlighting the ongoing danger.
Looking ahead, the implementation of subsequent stages of a ceasefire plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump remains undecided, particularly concerning Hamas’s disarmament and the establishment of a transitional authority. Plans for an international stabilization force, potentially involving Arab and Muslim nations, were discussed recently at a Bahrain conference. Jordanian and German foreign ministers emphasized the importance of securing a United Nations Security Council mandate to ensure the effectiveness of any deployed troops.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground continues to be dire for many residents of Gaza. Sumaya Daloul, a 27-year-old living in a tent with her family, expressed her bleak outlook for the future, stating, “I expect the suffering in Gaza to continue for years. There’s no hope for life to return, even partially.”
