Israel Hands Over 15 Bodies Of Palestinians To Gaza In The Context Of Ceasefire

The condition of refugees queuing for food in Gaza/Obviously UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

JAKARTA - Gaza's Ministry of Health announced that it had received the bodies of 15 Palestinians from Israeli authorities through the Red Cross team, as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement in the region.

In a statement, the ministry stated that the medical team is currently handling the bodies according to applicable forensic and medical protocols, including examinations, documentation, and identification processes before being returned to their respective families.

"Some of the bodies showed signs of violence, beatings, tied hands and closed eyes," Gaza's Ministry of Health said in an official statement quoted by Anadolu, Sunday, October 19.

With this latest submission, the total number of bodies that have been returned by Israel since the ceasefire was imposed on October 10 reached 150 people.

The ministry also said that so far as many as 25 victims have been identified by their families through an online system created to match the body data with the person reported missing.

A ceasefire and exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas was reached last week based on a gradual plan delivered by United States President Donald Trump.

The first stage includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, as well as plans to rebuild Gaza and establish a new government mechanism without the presence of the Hamas group.

Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, Gaza's Ministry of Health has recorded more than 68,200 people dead and 170,200 others injured, which they refer to as a result of Israel's genocide' against Gaza's population.