Post by : Rameen Ariff

Israel has received the remains of three more hostages from Hamas as part of the ongoing prisoner and hostage exchange under the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement. The fragile truce, which took effect on October 10, continues to hold despite sporadic tensions between both sides.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, “Israel has received, through the Red Cross, the coffins of three fallen hostages that were handed over to IDF and Shin Bet forces inside the Gaza Strip.” Officials confirmed that the bodies were transferred to a national forensic centre for identification and investigation into the cause of death. Families of the deceased will be briefed once the examination concludes.

Hamas’s armed wing said it located the remains earlier on Sunday along the route of one of its tunnels in southern Gaza. When the ceasefire began, Hamas held 48 hostages, including 20 confirmed alive. Since the truce, the group has released all surviving hostages and started returning the remains of 28 deceased captives.

So far, 17 of these remains have been handed over — including 15 Israelis, one Thai national, and one Nepali. Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the return process, while the Palestinian group maintains that recovery efforts are hampered by extensive destruction across Gaza. Hamas has appealed to mediators and the Red Cross for equipment and personnel to aid the process.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the latest handover demonstrates the group’s “commitment to returning the bodies as quickly as possible.” Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel urged the government to ensure that all deceased hostages are brought home without further delay.

“The prime minister must act decisively to bring the immediate return of all remaining hostages,” the group said in a statement.

In Gaza, many residents hope the truce will eventually lead to a full Israeli military withdrawal. “We want the second phase of the agreement to begin so we can return to our homes,” said Naif al-Sulaibi from Jabalia. “Life is impossible under these conditions.”

The next phase of US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan is still under discussion. Key elements include the disarmament of Hamas, creation of a transitional authority, and deployment of an international stabilisation force to maintain peace in Gaza.

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