The Red Cross has received two bodies purportedly belonging to hostages, according to statements from the Israeli military. These remains, recovered in Gaza, are set to be transported to Israel for formal identification. Earlier, Hamas reported that these bodies were retrieved amid rubble caused by Israeli attacks. Prior to this recent development, the remains of 10 out of 28 deceased hostages had been returned to Israel.
The situation has raised concerns in Israel, particularly as the terms of a recent ceasefire deal included stipulations for the return of all hostages, both living and deceased. Hamas has indicated that challenges in finding the remaining bodies due to extensive damage from airstrikes have delayed this process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has responded by ordering the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to remain closed until further notice. Reopening the crossing will depend on the return of the final hostages and adherence to the ceasefire agreement. The Rafah crossing is crucial for Palestinians seeking medical assistance and for facilitating the return of others.
Hamas also claims that Israeli strikes have complicated their efforts to recover the hostages’ remains. In a broader context, the ongoing conflict has seen significant casualties. Reports indicate that at least 68,000 people have died in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a significant attack, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities in Israel and the taking of 251 hostages.
Additionally, as part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and allowed 1,718 detainees from Gaza to return. However, a recent incident involving an Israeli tank shell reportedly killed 11 members of a Palestinian family, raising further concerns about the ceasefire’s effectiveness. The Israeli military stated that their forces fired upon a “suspicious vehicle” near a contested area, the precise details of which remain unclear.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v8e1484n5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss