DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — On Friday, Israel received another set of remains from Gaza, as announced by the prime minister’s office. This handover, organized by Hamas, coincided with the group’s efforts to maintain a ceasefire, utilizing bulldozers to search for bodies beneath the rubble in the region affected by conflict.
The coffin was transferred to the Israeli military and security forces by the International Committee of the Red Cross within Gaza and will be sent to Israel’s Ministry of Health’s National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. Authorities in Israel stated that the deceased’s family would be informed first upon completing the identification process.
The remains were described by Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, as belonging to an “occupation prisoner,” implying they pertain to an Israeli rather than one of the various foreign hostages captured in Gaza.
Ceasefire and Hostages
The transfer of the remains, mandated by the ceasefire agreement, highlights one of the ongoing challenges alongside aid deliveries and border crossing operations into Gaza. The international community is actively involved in efforts to conclude two years of destructive warfare in the region.
Hamas has emphasized its dedication to the ceasefire terms, including the return of bodies. Recently, they delivered the remains of nine hostages, along with one additional body that Israel confirmed was not that of a hostage.
Logistical Challenges
Hamas has indicated that the recovery of some remains is complicated by their location in destroyed tunnels or buildings. They blame delays on Israel’s refusal to allow new bulldozers into Gaza, where heavy machinery was largely destroyed during the conflict ignited by the October 7, 2023 attacks. Currently, only a limited number of bulldozers are available for rubble clearance.
A prominent focus for Hamas is obtaining increased humanitarian aid for Gaza, the rapid opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and the initiation of reconstruction. They also called for a committee of independent Palestinians to manage Gaza and urged continued withdrawal of Israeli forces from designated areas.
International Plans and Humanitarian Aid
France, in collaboration with Britain and the U.S., is preparing a U.N. resolution to establish an international presence in Gaza, which may include troops from Arab nations to supervise Palestinian police trained in Egypt. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with ongoing restrictions affecting aid deliveries.
