Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies, identifies remains of another hostage
&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies, identifies remains of another hostage")
Trucks loaded with aid supplies move from the Egyptian side of Rafah to Kerem Shalom crossing in the Gaza Strip. Photograph: (AFP)
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said that Margalit’s body was identified after testing by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, and his family has been notified. The 76-year-old was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Saturday, raising the total number of mortal remains handed over to 135, said the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. As per the ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, Israel was stipulated to return bodies of 15 Palestinians in exchange for each deceased Israeli handed over to it by Hamas. Late on Friday night, Hamas handed over the body of another Israeli hostage, who Israel identified as Eliyahu Margalit. Hamas has handed over the bodies of nine Israelis and one Nepalese student since the ceasefire came into effect and claims the other bodies are not traceable.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday that Margalit’s body was identified after testing by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, and his family has been notified. The 76-year-old was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, from the horse stables where he worked in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Also Read: Massive fire breaks out at Dhaka’s international airport; all flight operations suspended
President Trump had warned that he would give a go-ahead to Israel for resuming the war if Hamas doesn’t live up to its end of the deal and return the bodies of all 28 hostages.
Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry claimed that some of the bodies returned on Saturday bore signs of “abuse, beatings, handcuffing and blindfolding”, but the Israeli military denied the charge and termed the claims as usual “false propaganda” of Hamas.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Tokyo to Delhi: The 7 most populated cities on Earth in 2025 — Check the full list
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Global Firepower Index: Top 7 countries ranked by military strength - Is India among the top 5?
)
'Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing': Ex-US prez reacts after Trump declares DOJ will probe his connection to Epstein case. Details inside
)
Afghanistan dumps Pakistan trade amid conflict, turns to Iran and India
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
IPL 2026 retention list: 5 biggest high-value releases
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Day vs Night': When is the best time to fill petrol in your car?
)
SHOCKING! Indian Sikh woman on pilgrimage to Pakistan converted to Islam, married local resident: Police
)
Saudi Arabia bus-tanker collision: At least 42 Indians feared dead as Umrah bus collides with diesel tanker near Medina
)
‘Normal operations can resume’: FAA lifts flight cuts as longest US government shutdown ends
)
Trump says open to talks with Maduro, as Washington slaps 'foreign terrorist organisation' tag on his alleged cartel
)
Iran starts cloud seeding to induce rain amid worst drought in decades
)
‘We have nothing to hide’: Trump takes a U-turn, backs release of Epstein files
)
Most advanced US aircraft carrier arrives in Caribbean in major buildup near Venezuela
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
10 futuristic trains currently in development around the world
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
What is Grap-2, 3 and 4? How does it help in reducing pollution in Delhi
)
Pentagon confirms 21st strike on alleged drug boat, kills three in international waters. Watch video
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters fastest to 9000 runs in ODIs
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Gen Z protest in Mexico: What is significance of 'straw hat pirate' flags, and where else were they used?
)
Nitish Kumar set to take oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time, cabinet formula finalised. Check who gets what
Hamas says it is committed to the terms of the ceasefire deal, including the handover of bodies, but claims the retrieval of bodies is hampered by the scope of the devastation and the presence of dangerous, unexploded bombs.
The ministry of health also said that more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the two-year-long war. It claimed that the number of dead has risen since the ceasefire went into effect, as more dead bodies were found during recovery efforts under the rubble.
Hamas is also accusing Israel of continuing its attacks and violating the ceasefire.
