Israel has handed over the remains of 15 unidentified Palestinians who were killed during the conflict in Gaza as part of the prisoner exchange with Hamas under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. The transfer of the bodies followed the recovery of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, who was held by Hamas for over 840 days since the attack on southern Israel in October 2023.
Families of the Palestinians have been eagerly awaiting news about their loved ones as forensic teams in Israel work to identify the bodies. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of the bodies to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, marking the completion of a lengthy process to exchange prisoners and the deceased between the two sides.
A total of 360 bodies of deceased Palestinians have been released to Gaza officials, all of whom were unidentified at the time of release, with some showing signs of torture and abuse, according to forensic experts in Gaza. The identification process continues, with only 99 bodies identified out of those handed over since October.
The operation, initiated after the ceasefire agreement on October 10, 2025, included the release of living hostages by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The ICRC oversaw the returns of deceased individuals, including Israeli hostages and Palestinians, as part of the agreement’s first phase. The Red Cross expressed relief in helping reunite families and emphasized the importance of upholding the ceasefire, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, and respecting international law.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported casualties from Israeli military actions post-ceasefire, with over 490 people killed. The recent deaths add to the toll of Palestinians killed during the conflict, with tensions persisting despite the fragile ceasefire. The path to the next phase involves addressing contentious issues like Hamas’s disarmament and potentially deploying an international peacekeeping force.
