Gaza: Despite the ongoing ceasefire, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza continues to unfold. The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has handed over the bodies of two Israeli hostages to the Israeli authorities under the supervision of the Red Cross.
According to Al Jazeera, the remains of the two hostages have been transferred to Israel’s National Forensic Institute for identification and examination. Following this handover, 11 more bodies are yet to be returned.
It is worth noting that during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, 1,139 Israelis were killed and around 200 were taken hostage.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the receipt of the bodies, stating that efforts to recover the remaining captives will continue until the return of the last hostage.
Meanwhile, Hamas said that it requires permission to use heavy machinery to retrieve bodies trapped under rubble due to Israeli bombings. The group added that in many areas, recovering bodies has become extremely difficult.
On the other hand, Israel accused Hamas of deliberate delays, demanding the immediate return of all deceased hostages.
Despite the ceasefire, over 100 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on October 29, most of them women and children. According to recent figures, since October 7, 2023, 68,527 Palestinians have been killed and 170,395 injured in Gaza.
