Hamas returns remains of Israeli soldier under Gaza ceasefire deal

The Palestinian group Hamas has transferred the remains of an Israeli soldier to Israeli authorities as part of the ceasefire agreement currently in effect in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that military forces received a coffin from Red Cross teams in Gaza on Friday night, marking the latest exchange under the truce arrangement.

Identification and Military Service

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that forensic experts had identified the returned remains as those of Sgt. Maj. Lior Rudaeff, who served as deputy security coordinator and a member of the Nir Yitzhak community rapid response team. According to military statements, Rudaeff was killed during the October 2023 events near the Gaza border, and his body was taken to Gaza by members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group on October 7, 2023.

Ceasefire Progress and Remaining Issues

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Hamas has released 20 living Israeli captives and handed over the remains of 24 out of 28 individuals, though Israeli authorities have contested one body's identification. Israel has made the completion of hostage remains returns a precondition for beginning negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, while Hamas has cited the extensive destruction in Gaza as complicating recovery efforts.

Broader Agreement Framework

The first phase of the ceasefire includes the exchange of Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and outlines plans for Gaza's reconstruction and the establishment of a new governing mechanism that excludes Hamas. The process continues amid significant humanitarian challenges in Gaza, where Israeli military operations since October 2023 have resulted in approximately 69,000 fatalities and over 170,600 injuries.