GAZA CITY: Israel, through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Saturday, bringing the total number of bodies handed over to 135, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Under a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump, Israel agreed to return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli repatriated.
Late Friday, Hamas transferred the body of another Israeli hostage.
The ministry said medical teams are handling the remains in accordance with approved forensic and medical protocols, including examination, documentation, and identification procedures, before returning them to families.
“Some of the bodies show signs of abuse, beatings, bound hands, and blindfolded eyes,” the ministry added.
The ministry added that families have so far identified seven victims through an online reference system established to match remains with missing persons.
However, the Israeli military has dismissed these claims as “false propaganda by Hamas.”
Authorities in Gaza estimate around 9,500 people remain missing, some likely still under rubble, while the fate of others remains unknown.
Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages and handed over the remains of 11 more hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement.
