In an unexpected development on Wednesday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported the reception of 54 unidentified bodies from Israel and 66 boxes containing the remains of Palestinians believed to have perished during the two-year conflict with Hamas. Gaza health officials have initiated the process of identifying the remains.
Mu’in Al-Wahidi, who heads the special committee for receiving bodies at Al-Shifa Hospital, confirmed the reception of the unidentified bodies and remains late on Wednesday. Al-Wahidi mentioned that the hospital had received intact bodies and human remains in closed boxes for forensic examination the next day.
The health officials in Gaza disclosed that they lack details regarding the circumstances and locations of death, as well as any identifying information about the individuals. It was clarified that the transferred remains were not part of any truce agreement or exchange for Israeli hostages’ bodies.
Last week, Israeli authorities released the bodies of 15 unidentified Palestinians, marking the final exchange between Israel and Hamas in the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan. This occurred shortly after Israeli forces recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza for over 840 days following the 2023 attack on Israel.
The transfer of 54 bodies from Israel to Gaza on Wednesday brings the total number of deceased released by Israel since the commencement of the ceasefire deal on October 10, 2024, to 414. The return of the bodies of Palestinians killed in the conflict was a key aspect of the ceasefire deal’s first phase signed in October.
Amani Al-Naouq, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, confirmed the ICRC’s facilitation of the transfer on Wednesday. Al-Naouq highlighted the challenging task faced by forensic authorities in identifying the remains amid significant resource constraints.
The handover of the bodies occurred amidst another tragic day in Gaza, with Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes claiming the lives of 24 Palestinians, including seven children and a paramedic. The Israeli military stated that the strikes were in response to militants firing at Israeli troops near the armistice line with Hamas, resulting in severe injuries to an Israeli soldier, deemed a breach of the ceasefire agreement.