Israel Returns Bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza
Under fragile ceasefire agreement aimed at winding down deadliest Israel-Palestine war.
Hospital officials in Gaza have confirmed the receipt of 15 Palestinian bodies from Israel.
This development brings the total number of returned Palestinian bodies to 285, as per announcements made by Nasser Hospital officials in Khan Younis.
The recent return of bodies is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that commenced on October 10, 2023, intended to bring an end to their most destructive conflict to date.
The return of remains follows the release of hostages by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
In compliance with the ceasefire, Hamas has returned 21 hostages to Israel.
The process involves releasing one to three bodies every few days, a pace that Israel has sought to accelerate.
However, Hamas attributes the complexity of this task to the widespread devastation and lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza.
Israel has reciprocated by returning the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage returned.
Out of these, fewer than half have been identified due to limited forensic capabilities.
The Health Ministry in Gaza posts photographs of the remains online to assist families in identifying their loved ones.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas was ignited by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages.
In response, Israel launched a military operation that has led to over 68,800 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records considered reliable by independent experts.
Israel disputes the accuracy of these figures without providing an alternative count.
This development brings the total number of returned Palestinian bodies to 285, as per announcements made by Nasser Hospital officials in Khan Younis.
The recent return of bodies is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that commenced on October 10, 2023, intended to bring an end to their most destructive conflict to date.
The return of remains follows the release of hostages by Palestinian militants in Gaza.
In compliance with the ceasefire, Hamas has returned 21 hostages to Israel.
The process involves releasing one to three bodies every few days, a pace that Israel has sought to accelerate.
However, Hamas attributes the complexity of this task to the widespread devastation and lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza.
Israel has reciprocated by returning the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage returned.
Out of these, fewer than half have been identified due to limited forensic capabilities.
The Health Ministry in Gaza posts photographs of the remains online to assist families in identifying their loved ones.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas was ignited by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages.
In response, Israel launched a military operation that has led to over 68,800 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records considered reliable by independent experts.
Israel disputes the accuracy of these figures without providing an alternative count.
