Israel accepts coffin from Hamas claiming to hold remains of Gaza hostage
Israel has received a coffin claimed by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, allegedly containing the remains of a hostage. The military confirmed that the coffin was transported to Israel for identification via the Red Cross.
Key Developments in Hostage Crisis
This transfer occurred after a ceasefire agreement initiated on October 10. Under this deal, Hamas returned 20 living hostages along with the remains of 22 deceased individuals. However, out of a total of 28 deceased hostages, six remain in Gaza, comprised of five Israelis and one Thai national.
Hamas’s Claims and Israeli Response
- Hamas has stated that locating the remaining bodies is challenging due to the extensive rubble.
- Israel has criticized Hamas for not returning all the deceased hostages.
Ceasefire Agreement Overview
As part of the US-brokered ceasefire, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and allowed 1,718 detainees from Gaza to be freed. In return, Israel handed over the remains of 285 Palestinians. This exchange included the bodies of 19 Israeli hostages as well as three foreign nationals—one each from Thailand, Nepal, and Tanzania.
Aid and Violence Escalation
The agreement also included provisions for increased aid to Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces. Despite this, violence flared, with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms.
- On October 19, Israel launched airstrikes after alleging the killing of two soldiers by Hamas.
- Another soldier was reportedly killed on October 28, further escalating tensions.
Casualties and Ongoing Violence
The conflict continues to take a severe toll. The Hamas-run health ministry reported that at least 241 individuals have died due to Israeli military operations since the ceasefire began. Following the initial attack on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken, the situation in Gaza has worsened significantly.
Since then, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of at least 68,875 people in Gaza, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
