Hamas returns remains of three hostages to Israel as fragile ceasefire holds

On Sunday, November 2, Red Cross vehicles carried the bodies of three individuals, believed to be deceased hostages, from Gaza toward the border crossing with Israel.

Their return marks a continuation of the ongoing exchange as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel announced on Sunday that the remains of three hostages had been handed over and would be examined by forensic experts.

The Israeli military stated that official identification would be provided to the families first. A Hamas statement said the remains were found earlier that day in a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Since the ceasefire took effect on 10 October, Hamas has released the remains of 17 hostages. With Sunday’s handover, 11 bodies were reported to remain in Gaza.

On Sunday night, US President Donald Trump announced that the remains of one of the hostages returned was an American-Israeli national named Omer Neutra.

Neutra was a tank platoon leader in the Israel Defense Forces. Israeli officials believe he was killed during the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that started the war. Trump claimed to have spoken with Neutra’s parents, noting they were “thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it’s not too great.”

As the fragile, month-old ceasefire holds, Hamas has been releasing one or two bodies every few days. In exchange, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians for the return of each Israeli hostage’s remains.

The exchange of remains is a central, yet emotionally fraught, aspect of the initial phase of the US-brokered ceasefire. Relatives of the hostages continue to gather every week. During a Saturday rally in Jerusalem, Moran Harari, a friend of the late Carmel Gat, urged Israel to exercise moderation, stating, “This cursed war has taken so many lives of dear ones on both sides of the fence. This time, we must not fall into it again.”

Israel has pushed for faster progress, sometimes questioning whether the returned remains are those of hostages. Palestinian militants, however, say their work is complicated by widespread devastation in Gaza.

In a related challenge, health officials in Gaza are struggling to identify bodies without access to DNA kits. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, only 75 of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire began have been identified. The ministry has resorted to posting photos of remains in the hope that families will recognize them.

The underlying peace plan is extensive. The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international stabilisation force of Arab and other partners. This force would work with Egypt and Jordan to secure Gaza’s borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected.

While several countries have shown interest in a peacekeeping role, they have called for a clear UN Security Council mandate before committing troops.
Other challenging issues remain to be resolved, including:The disarmament of Hamas, the long-term rule of Gaza after the war, the timing and method for expanding humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated early Sunday that “there are still pockets of Hamas” in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control, specifically mentioning Rafah and Khan Younis, and saying they “will be eliminated.”