Israel transferred the bodies of 45 Palestinians as part of the ongoing ceasefire process, one day after Hamas returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Health officials in Gaza confirmed the handover, while Israeli authorities identified the soldiers whose remains were repatriated. This exchange occurred under a fragile, U.S.-mediated truce in a conflict now in its second year and regarded as the most lethal and destructive confrontation between Israel and Hamas.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian armed groups have returned the remains of 20 Israeli hostages. According to current figures, eight Israeli bodies are still held inside Gaza. In return, Israel has been releasing Palestinian bodies at a ratio of 15 for each Israeli hostage. With the latest transfer, that total has reached 270 Palestinian remains returned since the truce began.
The process underscores both ongoing political fragility and the complex humanitarian dimensions of the conflict. Each exchange signals a limited step toward maintaining the ceasefire, yet the scale of casualties and the continued presence of bodies in captivity highlight the unresolved tension and deep mistrust between the parties involved.
