Israel announced on Tuesday that it has received human remains handed over by Palestinian militants to the Red Cross, with uncertainty surrounding whether they belong to any of the three remaining hostages in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the remains will undergo forensic testing and identification. Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the remains in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza earlier this week. This transfer marks the latest development in the fragile ceasefire agreement from last month, which has largely held despite mutual accusations of violations by both parties.
In accordance with the October agreement between Hamas and Israel, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages held in Gaza in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees held by Israel. The terms of the agreement also entailed the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 Palestinian militants. To date, Palestinian militants have returned 25 hostage bodies, with the remaining hostages presumed to include two Israelis and a Thai national.
In response, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians to Gaza, with many yet to be identified. Hamas has cited difficulties in retrieving all the remains due to them being buried under debris from Israel’s previous military actions. Israel has expressed impatience and warned of potential consequences, including the resumption of military operations or the withholding of humanitarian aid if all remains are not returned promptly. Netanyahu’s office emphasized that any delays could be construed as a violation of the ceasefire terms.
Simultaneously, Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV disclosed that the Cairo government convened a follow-up meeting for mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire deal. The gathering included Egypt’s head of intelligence, the Qatari prime minister, and the head of Turkish intelligence, focusing on implementing the next phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s post-war Gaza plan. Discussions revolved around addressing challenges like ceasefire breaches to ensure the plan’s successful execution.
Additionally, a Hamas delegation, led by exiled leader Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo, exploring the roadmap for Trump’s plan, which includes establishing a transitional governing authority for Gaza and deploying a multinational security force. Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the truce and resistance towards fulfilling subsequent steps outlined in Trump’s proposal.