Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Friday, officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed. The exchange is part of a US-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10.
The handover followed Hamas releasing the body of one of the last remaining Israeli hostages, identified as Meny Godard, who was abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel has received 25 hostage bodies since the ceasefire, with three still in Gaza.
Read more : Israel opens key Gaza crossing for humanitarian aid
For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has released 15 Palestinian remains. So far, Gaza has received 330 bodies, but only 95 have been formally identified due to limited DNA testing resources, according to local health officials.
Meanwhile, winter rains have worsened conditions for displaced families in Gaza. Many live in makeshift shelters or partially destroyed buildings, struggling to protect themselves from flooding, cold, and collapsing structures, particularly in Jabaliya and Gaza City.
The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, condemned rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, citing over 260 attacks in October alone. Palestinian youths have been killed in clashes, while authorities continue investigations amid rising tensions.
Read more : Israeli army vows to curb settler violence in West Bank
The ceasefire plan also calls for forming a technocratic Palestinian government, disarming Hamas, and establishing an international stabilization force. These steps aim to reduce hostilities after a war that killed more than 69,100 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis.