Israel Hands Over 15 Palestinian Bodies as Ceasefire Enters Next Phase

Israel has released the bodies of 15 Palestinians killed during the Gaza war, a move that mediators hope will help advance the next stage of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The handover occurred three days after Israeli authorities recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, police officer Ron Gvili, whose death had long been presumed.

The transfer marks the formal completion of the first phase of the U.S.-brokered truce, which required the return of all remaining hostages—alive or deceased—and reciprocal releases of Palestinian detainees and bodies.

ICRC-Facilitated Transfer

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that it facilitated the return of the 15 bodies to Gaza. According to the organisation, this step concludes a months-long operation that began in October and involved the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas and more than 1,800 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

ICRC regional head Julien Lerisson said the operation aimed to reunite families with their loved ones and support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Identification Challenges in Gaza

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry confirmed receipt of the bodies and said forensic teams will now attempt identification. Only 99 of the 360 Palestinian bodies returned since October have been successfully identified, with many buried in mass graves due to the scale of casualties and limited forensic capacity.

Officials say families have been waiting months—sometimes years—for clarity on the fate of missing relatives.

Context: The Final Hostage and Ceasefire Terms

The release follows Israel’s announcement that it had located and identified the remains of the last Israeli hostage, Ron Gvili, who was among 251 people abducted during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. At the time the ceasefire was agreed, 48 hostages remained in Gaza, 28 of whom were believed dead.

Under the truce terms, Israel agreed to return 15 Palestinian bodies for each recovered hostage. The completion of this exchange clears the way for the next phase of the ceasefire plan, which includes highly contentious issues such as Hamas disarmament and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

Fragile Ceasefire Under Strain

Despite the formal progress, violence continues to threaten the truce’s stability.

• Medics in Gaza reported that two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis.
• Later the same day, an Israeli airstrike in the Maghazi camp killed at least one Palestinian and wounded others.
• Since the ceasefire took effect in October, at least 490 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, tank fire, or gunfire, according to Gaza health authorities.
• Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed by Palestinian militants during the truce period.

Both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the agreement.

What Comes Next

With the first phase now complete, mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar face the far more difficult task of negotiating Hamas’s disarmament—an issue the group has long rejected. The next stage of the peace plan also envisions:

• Deployment of an international peacekeeping force
• Gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops
• Reconstruction of Gaza’s devastated infrastructure

Diplomats warn that without significant concessions from both sides, the ceasefire could collapse before these steps are realised.

Conclusion

The return of the 15 Palestinian bodies represents both closure and renewed uncertainty. While it fulfils a key requirement of the ceasefire’s first phase, the path ahead is fraught with political, security, and humanitarian challenges. For families on both sides, the handovers bring a measure of resolution—but the broader conflict remains far from settled.