Gaza hospital receives 30 Palestinian bodies released by Israel

Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis received the remains of 30 Palestinians on Friday that were returned by Israeli authorities through the International Committee of the Red Cross. This latest transfer brings the total number of bodies repatriated since October 14 to 225, according to a statement released by the medical facility.

Ceasefire Agreement Context

The handover forms part of the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, which includes prisoner and body exchanges between Israel and Hamas. The deal has been mediated through diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, with oversight from the United States, marking a significant multilateral initiative to stabilize the region.

Identification Challenges and Previous Concerns

The Gaza Health Ministry has previously reported that many bodies returned by Israel showed indications of abuse and were delivered without identification. Families have been compelled to identify their relatives through physical characteristics or clothing items, as Gaza's forensic facilities remain non-operational due to the ongoing blockade and laboratory destruction.

Broader Issue of Withheld Remains

According to the Palestinian National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs' Bodies, Israel held 735 Palestinian remains in numbered graves before the ceasefire. A July 2024 Haaretz report additionally revealed that approximately 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza were being stored at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, highlighting the scale of this ongoing humanitarian issue.