The stays of a hostage in Gaza have been turned over and are actually in Israel, the Israeli army stated Tuesday, within the newest signal of progress below the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
The Israel Protection Forces later confirmed the stays belonged to Itay Chen, the final Israeli American hostage held in Gaza. Chen died throughout battle at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, and his physique was taken to Gaza. He was 19 years outdated, the IDF stated.
Chen is survived by his dad and mom and two brothers.
With the IDF’s affirmation, Hamas has returned the stays of 21 hostages to Israel below the ceasefire that started Oct. 10. The stays of seven others are nonetheless in Gaza. The means of returning the our bodies of the final remaining hostages, as known as for below the U.S. peace plan, has progressed slowly, with Hamas releasing only one or two our bodies each few days.
Hamas says it has not been capable of attain the entire stays as a result of they’re buried below rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel’s two-year offensive within the Gaza Strip.
Earlier Tuesday, the army wing of Hamas stated it had recovered the physique of an Israeli soldier in Gaza and supposed handy over the stays. Israel’s assertion didn’t point out whether or not the stays have been of a soldier.
Israel has pushed to hurry up the returns and, in sure circumstances, has stated the stays weren’t these of hostages. Israel’s authorities and the households of the hostages have accused Hamas of dragging its toes, threatening to renew army operations or withhold humanitarian support if the entire stays will not be returned.
Hamas has stated the work is difficult by widespread devastation.
For every Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the stays of 15 Palestinians. To date, the our bodies of 270 Palestinians have been handed over below the present ceasefire. Fewer than half have been recognized. Forensic work is difficult by an absence of DNA testing kits in Gaza. The Hamas-run Well being Ministry posts pictures of the stays on-line, within the hope that households will acknowledge them.
The conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led terror assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 individuals and noticed 251 taken hostage.
Israel responded with a sweeping army offensive that has killed greater than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, in line with the Hamas-run Ministry of Well being there, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The ministry, a part of the Hamas-run authorities and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed data considered as usually dependable by unbiased consultants.
Israel, which has denied accusations by a United Nations fee of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministry’s figures with out offering a contradicting toll.
The deadliest and most harmful conflict ever fought between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas was winding down as a result of ceasefire, however assaults briefly resumed final month after Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire.
The IDF stated final week that it could “proceed to uphold the ceasefire settlement and can reply firmly to any violation of it.”
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