Israel says remains returned by Hamas are not its hostages

Three sets of human remains transferred from Hamas to Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross have been identified as not belonging to Israeli hostages, according to Israeli media reports. The bodies were delivered on Friday and taken to Israel's National Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv for examination, but subsequent analysis revealed they did not match any individuals listed as captives.

Complicating Ceasefire Negotiations

This development creates a significant complication for the fragile ceasefire process. Israel has publicly stated that the commencement of negotiations for the second phase of the agreement is contingent upon the handover of all hostage remains. Hamas, meanwhile, has cited the extensive destruction across the Gaza Strip as a reason for the delays in locating and returning the bodies.

The Broader Context of the Deal

The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on October 10, has so far seen the release of 20 living Israeli captives and the return of 19 bodies. Israel had previously raised concerns about one of the bodies received not matching its records. The broader agreement involves the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, plans for Gaza's reconstruction, and the establishment of a new governing mechanism that excludes Hamas.

Ongoing Violence and Staggering Toll

Despite the truce, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that Israeli actions have killed 211 Palestinians and injured 597 others since the ceasefire began. The overall death toll from the genocide, which started in October 2023, stands at more than 68,500, with the majority being women and children, and over 170,600 injured.