Israel Returns 30 More Palestinian Bodies to Gaza as Part of Ongoing Ceasefire Exchange Deal

Friday's transfer brings the total number of bodies returned to Gaza to 225, according to officials.

Israel has transferred an additional 30 Palestinian bodies to Gaza as part of the ongoing exchange agreement under a US-mediated ceasefire arrangement, the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis confirmed to AFP on Friday.

Hospital representatives stated that "the bodies of 30 Palestinian prisoners were received from the Israeli side as part of the exchange deal."

According to the terms of the truce, Israel must return the remains of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli hostage returned by Hamas. With Friday's transfer, the total number of bodies returned to Gaza has now reached 225.

As with previous exchanges, the Red Cross facilitated the transfer of the bodies to the Nasser Medical Complex after they were handed over by Israeli authorities.

Under the ceasefire plan implemented on October 10, Hamas has already released 20 living hostages who were captured during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The militant group has also begun returning the bodies of 28 deceased hostages known to be missing, though progress has been slow, fueling growing frustration in Israel.

To date, Hamas has returned 15 bodies identified as Israeli hostages, along with the remains of two foreign workers—one Thai and one Nepalese—who were also taken during the October 7 attack.

Additionally, the group has returned partial remains of an Israeli hostage who had already been recovered, as well as an unidentified body not previously included among the 28 reported missing.

Currently, the bodies of 10 hostages from the October 7 attack are believed to remain in Gaza, plus one more missing since 2014. Among these, most are Israeli nationals, with one Tanzanian and one Thai citizen.

The Israeli government has accused Hamas of violating the truce agreement, with families of hostages demanding more forceful measures to ensure the Palestinian group's compliance.

Hamas maintains that it is adhering to the ceasefire plan but faces challenges in locating the remaining bodies due to the destruction of Gazan landmarks following two years of Israeli military operations.

Egyptian recovery teams equipped with heavy machinery have joined the search efforts to locate the remaining bodies.