Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had received human remains handed over by Palestinian militants to the Red Cross. The identity of the remains, whether they belong to the three hostages still missing in the Gaza Strip, remains unclear.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the remains would undergo forensic testing for identification purposes. Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the remains in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza earlier this week.
This handover is part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement from last month, which has been holding despite allegations of violations from both sides. Under the terms of the October deal between Hamas and Israel, Hamas released all 20 surviving hostages held in Gaza in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.
The agreement also included the return of the remains of 28 hostages in exchange for the remains of 360 Palestinian militants. So far, Palestinian militants have returned 25 bodies of hostages, leaving two Israelis and a Thai national still missing.
In response, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians to Gaza, with many still awaiting identification. Hamas cited difficulties in retrieving all the remains due to rubble left by Israel’s previous military actions. Israel has criticized the delay, threatening to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains are not promptly returned.
In related news, Egyptian state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV reported a follow-up meeting hosted by the Cairo government for mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire deal. Attendees included Egypt’s head of intelligence, the Qatari prime minister, and the head of Turkish intelligence. Discussions focused on implementing the next phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for post-war Gaza, aiming to address ceasefire violations and ensure its stability.
Additionally, a Hamas delegation, led by its exiled chief Khalil al-Hayya, engaged in talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo to strategize on the next steps outlined in Trump’s plan. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel and Hamas have exchanged accusations of violating the truce and hindering the progression of Trump’s proposed steps.