Israel handed over the bodies of 15 unidentified Palestinians who died during the conflict in Gaza, marking the final exchange of prisoners and detainees between Israel and Hamas under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan. The transfer occurred after Israeli forces retrieved the remains of Ran Gvili, who had been held captive by Hamas for over 840 days following an attack on southern Israel in 2023.
Families of the Palestinians have been eagerly awaiting news about their loved ones as forensic teams in Israel work to identify the remaining unidentified bodies. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover, transporting the bodies to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. This handover concludes a lengthy operation to facilitate the exchange of individuals between the two sides.
A total of 360 bodies of deceased Palestinians, all previously unidentified, have been released to Gaza officials, with many showing signs of abuse, as reported by forensic experts. Only 99 of the bodies handed over since October have been identified so far, leading health officials in Gaza to bury the unidentified bodies in mass graves.
Forensic officials at Al-Shifa Hospital will now focus on identifying the recently handed-over bodies, wrapping up an operation that commenced in October after the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The next steps in the ceasefire deal, including Hamas’s disarmament, remain contentious issues that need to be addressed as the process advances.
