JERUSALEM — Israel on Monday handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, health officials in Gaza said, a day after Hamas returned the remains of three hostages. Israeli officials identified the three as soldiers who were killed in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the war.
Health officials in Gaza say Israel has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians.
Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson at the Gaza Health Ministry, told the AP that Nasser Hospital in Gaza received the bodies Monday morning, November 3.
It comes a day after Palestinian militants returned to Israel the remains of three Israeli troops taken hostage on October 7, 2023.
Since the truce took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now still remaining in Gaza.
For each hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Monday’s return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270.
Zaher al-Wahidi told The Associated Press that the 45 released bodies of Palestinians were received at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza around noon.
Only about 75 of all the returned bodies have so far been identified, the ministry said. Forensic work is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, it added. The ministry posts photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will recognize them. — AP
