Israel’s military has confirmed that the latest remains handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and returned to Israel are those of a dead hostage.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the returned hostage as Eliyahu Margalit, 75, who was killed on October 7th and whose body was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz into Gaza. Known affectionately as “Churchill” by his loved ones, Mr. Margalit is the tenth deceased hostage to be returned. The bodies of 18 other individuals are still awaiting repatriation.
Hamas has been criticized for not returning all the bodies, though the exact terms of the ceasefire agreement remain undisclosed. The IDF has reiterated its call for Hamas to uphold the agreement and return all hostages. Hamas, in turn, has blamed Israeli airstrikes for the destruction of buildings, hindering their search efforts for the missing, and has pointed to the lack of heavy machinery allowed into Gaza.
The situation in Gaza has been described as dire, with the UN humanitarian chief noting the territory is now a “wasteland.” Aid agencies face an immense challenge in stabilizing the situation, providing relief, and reopening essential services.
In a previous exchange related to the ceasefire, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners while Hamas returned 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Discussions regarding the continuation of the ceasefire have involved US officials, who have indicated that preparations for further phases are ongoing. While the full details of the agreement are not public, some reports suggest it may allow for delays in body repatriations if recovery is difficult.
The conflict, which began after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. Recent reports indicate further Palestinian deaths in Gaza following an IDF operation on a bus.
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