Gaza City: Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Saturday, bringing the total number handed over to 135, the Gaza health ministry reported. Meanwhile, Israel announced the identification of the remains of another hostage, Eliyahu Margalit, handed over by Hamas. Margalit is the tenth returned hostage body since the Gaza ceasefire went into effect over a week ago.
According to France24.com, the Gaza health ministry stated that some of the bodies returned on Saturday showed signs of “abuse, beatings, handcuffing, and blindfolding.” In response, the Israeli military has dismissed these claims as “Hamas’s false propaganda.” The identification of Margalit’s body was confirmed by Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office after testing by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, and his family has been informed. The 76-year-old was abducted on October 7, 2023, during a Hamas attack from the horse stables where he worked in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Margalit’s body was discovered after bulldozers unearthed pits in Khan Younis. His return marks the 10th returned hostage body since the ceasefire began, with Hamas delivering an 11th body this week, though not of a hostage. This retrieval effort comes after a warning from US President Donald Trump, who indicated he would allow Israel to resume hostilities if Hamas fails to fulfill its obligations to return all hostages’ bodies, totaling 28.
In a statement, the hostage forum, supporting the families of the abducted, expressed that Margalit’s return brings some comfort to his family, but emphasized their continued efforts until the remaining 18 hostages are returned. The forum plans to hold weekly rallies until all remains are retrieved. Since the ceasefire’s commencement, Hamas has returned the bodies of nine Israelis and one Nepalese student.
The return of hostages’ remains, as mandated by the ceasefire agreement, remains a critical issue, along with aid deliveries, the opening of border crossings, and reconstruction efforts. These aspects are part of an international community-backed process to conclude two years of conflict in Gaza.
Hamas has committed to the ceasefire terms, including the handover of bodies, although the recovery process is challenged by extensive devastation and unexploded ordnance. Some bodies remain in areas under Israeli control. The health ministry also reported over 68,000 Palestinian fatalities during the two-year war, with many bodies found amidst recovery efforts post-ceasefire.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and continuing attacks. On Friday, the Hamas-run Civil Defense reported nine Palestinian deaths, including women and children, from Israeli fire in Gaza City. The incident occurred when a vehicle crossed into an Israeli-controlled zone. Israel defended its actions, citing the vehicle as an imminent threat after warning shots were ignored.
Hamas urges mediators to facilitate increased aid, expedite the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and initiate Gaza’s reconstruction. Aid flow remains restricted due to crossing closures and aid group limitations. UN data revealed 339 aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, below the 600 daily trucks agreed upon.
COGAT, the Israeli defense body managing Gaza aid, reported 950 trucks, including commercial and bilateral deliveries, crossed on Thursday, and 716 on Wednesday. Gaza’s 2 million residents hope for relief from the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel’s offensive, which has led to famine and malnutrition-related deaths.
While Israel claims sufficient food was allowed in, accusing Hamas of theft, the UN and aid agencies refute this. The conflict has resulted in nearly 68,000 Palestinian deaths, per the health ministry’s figures, which UN agencies and experts regard as reliable, though Israel disputes these numbers without providing alternatives. Thousands remain missing, as reported by the Red Cross.
In a related development, UN relief coordinator Tom Fletcher inspected damage in Gaza, noting the massive reconstruction task ahead. The UN plans to deliver a million meals daily, rebuild healthcare, provide winter tents, and resume education for hundreds of thousands of children. Relief agencies call for the Rafah crossing’s reopening to hasten food, fuel, and medicine supplies, with Turkey ready to assist in body recovery efforts.