Gaza's Tense Ceasefire: Body Exchanges Continue Amid Ongoing Conflict

Continued Body Exchanges in Gaza

Deir Al-Balah: On Wednesday, officials from Gaza's largest operational hospital reported the return of 15 additional Palestinian bodies from Israel, as the fragile ceasefire agreement continues to facilitate exchanges despite ongoing allegations of violations.

Since the ceasefire agreement was established last month, the International Committee of the Red Cross has successfully transported 285 bodies previously held by Israel back to Gaza. However, health officials in the region have indicated that identifying these remains is challenging due to a shortage of DNA testing kits.

Israel has not revealed the total number of bodies it possesses or their origins, but it has been returning 15 bodies each time an Israeli hostage is released from Gaza.

The latest return occurred at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, following the handover of an Israeli soldier's body by Palestinian militants, taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the current conflict.

These exchanges are a key aspect of the initial phase of a US-brokered agreement, which mandates that Hamas return all hostages as swiftly as possible. Despite the exchanges, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating other terms of the agreement.

On October 13, Hamas returned 20 living hostages to Israel and has since also handed over the remains of 21 bodies. Israeli officials have criticized parts of this process, claiming that Hamas has sometimes delivered only partial remains and staged the discovery of bodies.

Israel is pushing for expedited returns and has claimed that some remains do not belong to hostages.

Hamas has stated that the recovery of bodies is hindered by the extensive destruction in Gaza and has been returning one to three bodies every few days. The group has also accused Israel of targeting civilians and limiting humanitarian aid to the area. Since the ceasefire began, the number of casualties has reportedly decreased.

Nevertheless, health officials in Gaza, who do not differentiate between civilians and militants, continue to report fatalities from strikes, while Israel claims that its soldiers have also suffered losses.

The agreement will not progress to subsequent phases until all Israeli hostages' remains are returned.

The next steps in the 20-point plan involve establishing an international stabilization force. The specifics of this force are still being determined, with diplomats working to clarify its role, encourage participation from Arab nations, and garner broader international support.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, "We believe that any entity established in Gaza should have the legitimacy of a mandate from the Security Council," during a press conference in Doha on Tuesday.

This delicate agreement seeks to de-escalate the conflict that erupted following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.

In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale military operation that, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, has resulted in over 68,800 Palestinian deaths. This ministry, part of the Hamas-led government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records that are generally considered reliable by independent analysts.

Israel has denied allegations from a UN inquiry commission and others regarding genocide in Gaza and has contested the ministry's figures without providing an alternative death toll.