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Hamas Hands Over Body Claimed to Be Israeli Hostage
The Israeli military says it has received a body from Hamas, which the group claims belonged to one of the hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks. The remains were transferred through the Red Cross to Israeli forces stationed in Gaza and are now being taken to Israel for formal identification.
This marks the latest step in the ongoing ceasefire deal brokered by the United States. So far, Hamas has released 20 living hostages and returned 12 of the 28 bodies believed to be held in Gaza.
Tensions remain high as Israeli officials express frustration over Hamas’s failure to return all of the deceased hostages. The Israeli military insists that Hamas must fully comply with the agreement and ensure the return of every captive. Hamas, however, claims that recovering some bodies has proven difficult due to rubble and restricted access in Gaza.
Exchange Under the Ceasefire Deal
In return for the hostages and remains, Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners, along with 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Additionally, 15 bodies of Palestinians have been returned for each Israeli body handed over.
The initial phase of the ceasefire has also allowed for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, a partial Israeli military pullback, and a reduction in active fighting. However, violence briefly escalated on Sunday, when both sides accused each other of violating the terms.
Israel responded to an alleged Hamas attack in Rafah that left two Israeli soldiers dead by launching airstrikes across the Gaza Strip. Local hospitals report at least 45 Palestinian deaths from those strikes. Hamas stated it was unaware of any clashes in the area, which is currently under Israeli military control.
Despite the flare-up, Israeli authorities announced they would continue to enforce the ceasefire but warned they would “respond firmly” to any breaches. Hamas said it remained committed to the agreement.
Ceasefire Lines and Clashes Continue
To reduce confusion about troop positions, the Israeli military has begun marking out the so-called “Yellow Line” a demarcation separating areas under Israeli control from the rest of Gaza. Bulldozers have been seen placing yellow blocks to clearly define the zone.
On Monday, Palestinian health officials said three people were killed east of Gaza City by Israeli fire. The Israeli military claims the victims were armed individuals who crossed into the restricted zone in Shejaiya.
Background on the Conflict
The recent ceasefire and hostage negotiations follow the deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Since then, Israel has launched a wide-ranging military operation in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 68,000 people have died in the conflict so far. These figures, while published by a Hamas-run agency, are generally treated as credible by international organizations like the United Nations..
