More than 69,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza health authorities reported on Saturday. This grim milestone comes as more bodies are being recovered in the severely affected Gaza Strip following the implementation of a fragile ceasefire on October 10. The death toll includes Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes targeting alleged militants.
On Saturday, Israel handed over the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, a day after militants returned the body of a hostage, identified as Lior Rudaeff, to Israel. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed that Rudaeff, originally from Argentina, was among those returned.
The ceasefire agreement prioritizes the return of all hostage remains by Hamas as a crucial initial step. Families and supporters gathered in Tel Aviv once again to demand the repatriation of all remains.
The ceasefire seeks to de-escalate the deadliest and most destructive conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. The conflict started with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and 251 individuals being taken hostage, based on Israeli figures.
In parallel developments, Israeli settlers launched two attacks on Palestinian farmers and civilians in the occupied West Bank. The violence coincides with the annual olive harvest, with settler aggression reaching alarming levels.
For every Israeli hostage returned, Israel is releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. According to Ahmed Dheir, the director of forensic medicine at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, 300 sets of remains have been repatriated, with 89 positively identified. Limited resources and DNA testing challenges hinder the swift identification of all remains, with unidentifiable bodies set for group burials.
Families anxiously search through decomposed remains, hoping to find their missing loved ones. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported a total of 69,169 deaths since the conflict began, with 284 individuals added to the toll following recent identifications.
In the past three days alone, 10 bodies were brought to Gaza hospitals, including those retrieved from debris and newly deceased individuals. Since the ceasefire commenced, 241 fatalities have been recorded in Gaza, with a significant number of Palestinians still unaccounted for.
Israeli military forces announced the killing of two militants who approached troops in separate incidents in northern and southern Gaza on Saturday. Palestinian health officials reported 11 injuries from an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank town of Beita, including journalists, medics, international activists, and farmers.
The United Nations reported a surge in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank during October, marking the highest monthly count since 2006. The escalating violence underscores the volatile situation in the region.
Journalists and activists also faced violence, with reports of attacks on media personnel by Israeli settlers. The incidents highlight the risks faced by individuals documenting the conflict on the ground.
Despite the challenges, efforts continue to ensure accountability and justice for victims of the conflict, with calls for investigations into violent incidents and protection for civilians and journalists operating in the affected areas.
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