Israel transfers bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza following return of three soldiers' remains

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians to authorities in Gaza, one day after Hamas returned to Israel the remains of three soldiers captured during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Officials at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza confirmed receiving the bodies on Monday afternoon.

The exchange took place under a fragile ceasefire mediated by the United States, which has seen a series of coordinated returns of human remains between both sides. According to health authorities in Gaza, identifying many of the bodies has been difficult due to a lack of DNA testing resources.

Since the truce began on October 10, Palestinian groups have returned the remains of 20 Israeli hostages, while Israel has been transferring the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli returned. The process has been viewed as a cautious sign of cooperation amid broader efforts to sustain the ceasefire and address humanitarian conditions in the territory.