Israel says Red Cross receives remains of three hostages from Gaza tunnels

Israel said on Sunday that the Red Cross has received the remains of three hostages in Gaza, which will be transferred to the Israeli military for identification.

A Hamas statement earlier claimed the remains were discovered in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Since the Gaza ceasefire took effect on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, while 11 are still believed to be in Gaza.

Militants have been releasing one or two bodies every few days. Israel has called for faster progress, noting that in some cases the returned remains were not of hostages. Hamas has said the process is hampered by widespread destruction in the enclave.

Israel’s military said that official identification of the latest remains would first be shared with the victims’ families. In exchange for the return of an Israeli hostage’s body, Israel has handed over the remains of 15 Palestinians.

Health officials in Gaza continue to struggle to identify bodies due to a lack of DNA testing kits. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire began have been identified, with photographs of the remains posted publicly to help families recognise them.

It remains unclear whether the Palestinians whose bodies were returned were among those killed in Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attack, died in Israeli custody, or were recovered by troops inside Gaza during the war.

The exchange has been the central part of the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international stabilization force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on securing Gaza’s borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected.

Multiple nations have shown interest in taking part in a peacekeeping force but called for a clear U.N. Security Council mandate before committing troops.

Other difficult questions include Hamas’ disarmament and the governance of a postwar Gaza, as well as when and how humanitarian aid will be increased.

The deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas began with the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.

Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 68,600 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

Israel, which has denied accusations by a U.N. commission of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministry’s figures without providing a contradicting toll.

With inputs from agencies