The fragile ceasefire in Gaza remains in effect despite escalating tensions, following the recovery of the body of another Israeli hostage from the rubble in the central Gaza Strip.
Hostage Recovery Amid Truce
Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants announced they discovered the deceased hostage's remains earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. Hamas confirmed on Telegram that the body would be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire began on October 10, Palestinian militants have returned the bodies of 25 hostages. However, the process has been slow, with three hostages believed to still be in Gaza. Hamas claims difficulty in reaching all remains due to them being buried under wreckage from Israel's two-year offensive in the territory.
Ceasefire Violation Accusations Mount
Israel has accused militants of deliberately delaying the process, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stating on Tuesday that these delays constitute a ceasefire violation. Israel has threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all remains aren't returned.
In a reciprocal move, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. Palestinian officials report struggling to identify these remains without access to DNA kits, with the Gaza Health Ministry confirming only 95 have been identified so far.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The conflict's devastating human toll continues to rise even during the ceasefire period. Gaza's Health Ministry, considered reliable by independent experts, reports that 345 people have been killed and 588 bodies recovered since the truce began, with the ministry not distinguishing between civilian and combatant casualties.
The overall casualty figures remain staggering, with the Health Ministry reporting more than 70,000 killed and approximately 170,863 injured in Israel's retaliatory offensive following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages.
Compounding the humanitarian crisis, recent heavy rains have left thousands of displaced Palestinians exposed to the elements, creating additional challenges for the already devastated population.
