Gaza receives remains of 15 more Palestinians from Israel via ICRC

The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Saturday the receipt of 15 more sets of Palestinian remains returned by Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross, marking another somber development in the post-ceasefire period. This latest repatriation brings the total number of bodies returned since the truce began to 135, as forensic teams work to identify the deceased amid challenging conditions.

Forensic Challenges and Reported Abuse

Medical teams are following established forensic protocols to examine, document, and identify the remains before returning them to grieving families. The Health Ministry reported that "some of the bodies show signs of abuse, beatings, bound hands, and blindfolded eyes," echoing previous statements from Gaza's Government Media Office director Ismail al-Thawabta, who had described similar patterns of trauma on earlier repatriated remains.

Innovative Identification Methods

With traditional identification methods hampered by limited resources and the condition of the bodies, health authorities have established an online portal displaying censored photographs to help families identify missing relatives remotely. Ahmad Dhahir, director of forensic medicine at Nasser Hospital, explained that this digital approach became necessary due to the lack of scientific identification tools. So far, families have successfully identified only seven victims through this system.

Broader Context of the Conflict

The repatriations occur within the framework of the ceasefire agreement that has also seen Hamas release 20 living Israeli hostages and hand over the remains of 11 others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The conflict's devastating toll continues to emerge, with authorities estimating approximately 9,500 people still missing in Gaza—some believed trapped under rubble—while the territory grapples with the aftermath of military operations that have killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians since October 2023.