Hamas has reportedly returned a body that it claims belongs to an Israeli hostage, according to the Israeli military. The body was transferred by the Red Cross to Israeli forces stationed in Gaza and will undergo formal identification in Israel. Prior to this, Hamas released all 20 living hostages and 12 out of 28 deceased hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States that commenced on October 10.
There is dissatisfaction among some in Israel regarding the incomplete return of deceased hostages. The Israeli military has stated that Hamas is expected to honor the agreement and ensure the return of all hostages. In response, Hamas has indicated that finding bodies amidst the rubble in Gaza has proven challenging.
The terms of the ceasefire also included Israel’s release of 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza, as well as the return of 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage’s remains. During the first phase of the agreement, humanitarian aid levels to Gaza increased, and there was a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and a temporary halt in combat. However, violence escalated on Sunday, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
In recent developments, Israel has targeted numerous Hamas positions following an alleged attack that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in Rafah. Hamas stated it was unaware of clashes in that area. Following these strikes, local hospitals reported at least 45 Palestinian fatalities. Israel indicated it would continue enforcing the ceasefire while asserting its intention to respond decisively to any violations. Conversely, Hamas stated its commitment to the agreement.
Additionally, recent reports confirm that Israeli fire led to three deaths east of Gaza City, with the Israeli Defense Forces claiming it targeted individuals who crossed a designated boundary known as the Yellow Line. Following the outbreak of conflict on October 7, when Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages, over 68,216 fatalities have reportedly occurred in Gaza according to the Hamas-operated health ministry, which some sources recognize as credible.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cew45zp1228o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss