Israel announced on Tuesday that Palestinian militants have handed over human remains, believed to be those of a hostage, to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Red Cross will facilitate delivery to the Israeli military, after which the remains are expected to undergo forensic testing and identification. It remains unclear whether these remains belong to one of the three hostages still in Gaza.

Islamic Jihad Locates Body in Nuseirat

Earlier this week, Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported discovering the body during operations in Nuseirat, a central Gaza refugee camp. The handover marks another step in the gradual return of hostages and their remains since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025.

Since the beginning of the truce, Palestinian militants have returned the bodies of 25 hostages. However, three remain in Gaza, and the slow progress has put pressure on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based groups.

Ongoing Challenges in Returning Hostages

Hamas has stated that some remains remain inaccessible because they are buried under rubble from Israel’s two-year military offensive in the territory. Israel, meanwhile, has criticized the delays, accusing Hamas and its allies of stalling the handovers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the delay as a violation of the ceasefire and warned that Israel could resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if the remaining bodies are not returned promptly.

Forensic Identification and Humanitarian Efforts

Once the remains are transported to Israel, forensic teams will conduct DNA testing to confirm identities. The process of identifying bodies has been challenging for Palestinian authorities due to limited access to DNA kits and the extent of destruction in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, only 95 of the returned bodies have been positively identified so far.

Israel has not disclosed the identities of the returned remains. Meanwhile, Israel has returned 330 Palestinian bodies since the ceasefire took effect, demonstrating the reciprocal aspect of the exchange.

Humanitarian Concerns Amid Rain and Displacement

In addition to the ongoing hostage and body recovery operations, Gaza faces worsening humanitarian conditions. Heavy rainfall has displaced thousands, creating temporary flooded tent camps and exposing families, including children, to harsh conditions.

Context: The 2023 Israel-Gaza Conflict

The ongoing crisis traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Most hostages or their remains have since been returned through ceasefires and negotiated agreements.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s retaliatory operations have killed at least 69,775 Palestinians and injured 170,863. Since the ceasefire began on October 11, 2025, 345 Palestinians have died, and 588 bodies have been recovered. These figures include both civilians and combatants, with women and children constituting a majority of fatalities.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry confirmed that Israeli forces killed three Palestinians east of Khan Younis, alongside 14 others recovered from under rubble over the past 24 hours. These developments highlight the continuing human cost in Gaza, even amid a fragile truce.