Hamas to Hand Over Hostage Remains as Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance
Hamas has declared it will return the body of an Israeli hostage on Tuesday afternoon, a significant development under the fragile ceasefire that has been in effect since October. This announcement comes amidst ongoing tensions, with Israel continuing strikes on Gaza and both sides trading accusations of violating the truce.
Body Discovered in Central Gaza Refugee Camp
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group stated it had located the remains earlier this week in Nuseirat, a refugee camp situated in central Gaza. Hamas confirmed the details through a Telegram channel, specifying that the handover to the International Committee of the Red Cross is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire began on 10 October, Palestinian militants have released the bodies of 25 hostages. It is believed that three sets of remains are still within Gaza, and the slow progress of these exchanges repeatedly threatens to derail the ongoing truce.
Mounting Tensions and Accusations Threaten Truce
Hamas officials have claimed that reaching all of the hostage remains has been hampered because they are buried under the rubble from Israel's two-year military offensive in the territory. Conversely, Israel has accused the militant groups of intentionally delaying the process. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Tuesday labelling these delays a violation of the ceasefire terms, threatening to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all bodies are not returned.
In a reciprocal move, Israel has released the bodies of 330 Palestinians back to Gaza since the ceasefire started. However, Palestinian authorities report significant difficulties in identifying the deceased due to a lack of access to DNA testing kits. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration but is considered reliable by independent experts, says only 95 have been identified so far.
Dire Humanitarian Crisis Worsens in Gaza
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows increasingly desperate. Recent heavy rains have displaced thousands more people, leaving families and children exposed to the elements. This severe weather has highlighted the catastrophic living conditions facing millions in the region.
The conflict originated with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 250 taken hostage. While nearly all hostages or their remains have been returned through various deals, the retaliatory Israeli offensive has resulted in a massive Palestinian casualty count.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 69,775 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured. The death toll has continued to rise even during the ceasefire, both from new Israeli strikes and from the recovery of bodies of people killed earlier in the war. The ministry reports that 345 people have been killed and 588 bodies recovered since the truce began. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but states that women and children constitute the majority of those killed.
