DaysofPal – Israeli forces handed over the bodies of 54 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening under the terms of the prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement.
The Gaza Ministry of Health said in a statement that 54 bodies arrived at al-Shifa Medical Complex, along with 66 boxes containing human remains and body parts. The transfer was carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross following their release by Israeli authorities.
The ministry explained that medical teams are continuing to handle the bodies in line with approved medical procedures and protocols, in coordination with relevant authorities and specialized committees. The process includes examination, documentation, and preparation for returning the bodies to the families of those killed.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health’s special committee for missing persons and unidentified bodies announced the activation of an identification unit for the remains of 15 Palestinians previously received from Israeli authorities on January 30.
The committee said the identification process aims to verify the identities of the deceased, complete legal procedures, and ensure burial in a manner that preserves their dignity.
Families of missing Palestinians were urged to attend and participate in the identification process to help bring an end to the long and painful search and allow families to receive the bodies of their loved ones.
Since the ceasefire agreement was signed in October, Israeli authorities have returned 90 Palestinian bodies. No clear information has been provided regarding the total number of bodies still being held or the timing of future releases.
Under the ceasefire arrangement, Palestinian resistance groups have released Israeli captives, both living and deceased, in stages through the Red Cross. Israeli forces, however, have continued to violate the truce.
According to the terms of the agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, Israel is required to return 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli captive body held in Gaza.
Israeli authorities are still holding the bodies of at least 777 documented Palestinians, classified as “detainees,” including 96 prisoners from the Palestinian detainee movement, 77 children under the age of 18, and 10 women. Hundreds more bodies from Gaza remain in Israeli custody without disclosure of their identities or the circumstances under which they are being held.
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