GAZA CITY: Israel has returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza on Wednesday.
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory confirmed this brings the total number of bodies handed over under the ceasefire deal to 195.
Under the deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, Israel agreed to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned.
Israel’s military announced on Wednesday that the remains of two more hostages returned from Gaza had been identified.
The identified individuals were Aryeh Zalmanovich and Master Sergeant Tamir Adar.
Since October 10, the remains of 15 hostages have been returned to Israel.
Hamas had pledged to hand over 28 hostages under the ceasefire agreement.
Gaza’s health ministry reported that 57 of the returned Palestinian bodies have been identified by relatives.
Fifty-four unidentified bodies were buried on Wednesday according to official statements.
Gaza’s civil defence agency confirmed the funeral procession began at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
The procession proceeded to a cemetery in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
AFP footage from Nasser Hospital showed dozens of bodies laid out in white body bags.
Rescue workers stood in a line to pray over the dead in the hospital footage.
Umm Hassan Hammad said she has been unable to identify the body of her missing son.
Her son has been missing since October 7, 2023 according to her statement.
“Every day I come here, maybe I recognise him from his clothes or the trousers he went out in since October 7,“ she said. – AFP
