Israel Returns Bodies of 15 Palestinians Under Ceasefire Agreement
Exchange marks progress in US-brokered truce, with Israel returning the remains of 300 Palestinians.
KHAN YOUNIS: Israel on Saturday returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, according to hospital officials in the strip.
This move follows a pattern established under the tenuous ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in the ongoing two-year conflict.The exchange signifies another step forward in the fragile peace process.
As part of this deal, Israel has committed to returning the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage held captive.The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving the 15 bodies on Saturday.
This development comes shortly after Israel confirmed that the remains returned on Friday night belonged to Lior Rudaeff, an Israeli man who died during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attack that initiated the war.
The Prime Minister’s office identified Rudaeff as being from Argentina and residing in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak before his death.
He was recognized for his over 40 years of service as an ambulance driver and active membership within the community's emergency response team.Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff's body, with five still awaiting repatriation in Gaza.
In parallel, Israel has handed over the bodies of 300 Palestinians to date, marking a significant aspect of the peace efforts.However, health officials in Gaza face challenges in identifying these bodies due to limited access to DNA kits.
They have managed to identify only 89 out of the returned bodies as of now, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.Under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel is expected to facilitate increased aid into Gaza.
Despite this, current relief efforts fall short of the needed assistance, as per Farhan Haqq, deputy spokesperson for the United Nations.
An estimated 200,000 metric tonnes of aid are poised for entry into Gaza; however, only 37,000 tonnes, primarily food supplies, have been permitted thus far.The conflict initiated by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and led to the hostage taking of 251 individuals.
In response, Israel's military operation has claimed over 68,800 Palestinian lives in Gaza, according to records maintained by the Gaza Health Ministry.
This move follows a pattern established under the tenuous ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States in the ongoing two-year conflict.The exchange signifies another step forward in the fragile peace process.
As part of this deal, Israel has committed to returning the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage held captive.The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving the 15 bodies on Saturday.
This development comes shortly after Israel confirmed that the remains returned on Friday night belonged to Lior Rudaeff, an Israeli man who died during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attack that initiated the war.
The Prime Minister’s office identified Rudaeff as being from Argentina and residing in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak before his death.
He was recognized for his over 40 years of service as an ambulance driver and active membership within the community's emergency response team.Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff's body, with five still awaiting repatriation in Gaza.
In parallel, Israel has handed over the bodies of 300 Palestinians to date, marking a significant aspect of the peace efforts.However, health officials in Gaza face challenges in identifying these bodies due to limited access to DNA kits.
They have managed to identify only 89 out of the returned bodies as of now, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.Under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel is expected to facilitate increased aid into Gaza.
Despite this, current relief efforts fall short of the needed assistance, as per Farhan Haqq, deputy spokesperson for the United Nations.
An estimated 200,000 metric tonnes of aid are poised for entry into Gaza; however, only 37,000 tonnes, primarily food supplies, have been permitted thus far.The conflict initiated by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and led to the hostage taking of 251 individuals.
In response, Israel's military operation has claimed over 68,800 Palestinian lives in Gaza, according to records maintained by the Gaza Health Ministry.