Israel has released 15 bodies of Palestinians killed during the war in the Gaza Strip, three days after recovering the remains of the last hostage. Mediators’ hopes will pave the way for the implementation of the next phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Police officer Ron Gvili was among 251 hostages seized by Hamas militants and taken to the enclave during their October 7, 2023 cross-border attack that sparked the war.
At the time of the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas in October, 48 hostages remained in the Gaza Strip, 28 of whom were believed dead, including Gvili.
Handing over all remaining living and dead hostages was a core commitment established in the first phase of the ceasefire.
The subsequent phases have yet to be fulfilled, with deep divisions over what comes next, including the disarmament of Hamas.
The end of the exchange of hostages and detainees
In a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had facilitated the return of 15 deceased Palestinians to the Gaza Strip after Israel recovered Gvili’s remains.
“This marks the completion of a months-long operation that reunited families and supported the implementation of the ceasefire,” the ICRC statement said.
The operation began in October with the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas and 1,808 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, the ICRC said.
In subsequent phases, the ICRC smoothed the return of the deceased, including 27 of the 28 hostages and 360 Palestinians.
“We are relieved to have helped families reunite with their loved ones. For families whose deceased relatives have returned, we hope this provides the opportunity to fully mourn,” said ICRC regional head Julien Lerisson.
The Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed it had received the 15 bodies and said it would now try to identify them.
Only 99 of the Palestinian bodies transferred since October have been identified, the report added, with health officials forced to bury unidentified bodies in mass graves.
Ongoing violence
In the latest violence to disrupt the fragile ceasefire, doctors said two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis, in an area adjacent to where the army operates.
The Israeli army told Reuters on Thursday that it was not aware of any casualties as a result of the Israeli fire.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes, tank shelling and gunfire have killed at least 490 people since the ceasefire took effect in October, after two years of war that devastated the Palestinian enclave.
Later in the day, an Israeli airstrike killed at least one Palestinian and injured others in the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip.
It was unclear what prompted the attack, and the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel said four soldiers were killed by Palestinian militants in the small coastal area during the ceasefire.
The two sides have blamed each other for the ceasefire violations.
By moving to phase two, the U.S. and mediator partners Egypt and Qatar must confront the more contentious issue of disarmament of Hamas, which the group has rejected.
The plan also calls for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.
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