Israel Returns 195 Palestinian Bodies to Gaza Under US-Brokered Ceasefire Agreement

Palestinian Territories:

On Wednesday, Israel returned the remains of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, reaching a total of 195 bodies handed over under the ceasefire agreement, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

The agreement, mediated by US President Donald Trump, stipulates that Israel must return 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage's remains that are returned.

Israel's military confirmed on Wednesday that the remains of two additional hostages returned the previous day had been identified as Aryeh Zalmanovich and Master Sergeant Tamir Adar.

Since October 10, Hamas has returned the remains of 15 hostages out of the 28 they committed to hand over as part of the ceasefire arrangement.

Gaza's health ministry reported that families have identified 57 of the returned Palestinian bodies, while 54 unidentified remains were buried on Wednesday.

The Gaza civil defence agency, which operates under Hamas authority, stated that the funeral procession began at Nasser Hospital in southern Khan Yunis before proceeding to a cemetery in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

AFP footage from Nasser Hospital depicted dozens of bodies in white body bags laid on the floor as rescue workers formed a line to pray for the deceased.

Umm Hassan Hammad expressed her ongoing struggle to identify her son who has been missing since October 7, 2023.

"Every day I come here, hoping to recognize him from his clothes or the trousers he was wearing when he left on October 7," she said.