The stays of a hostage in Gaza have been turned over and at the moment are in Israel, the Israeli navy stated Tuesday, within the newest signal of progress underneath 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 He was 19 years outdated, the IDF stated.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 mother and father and two brothers.
With the IDF’s affirmation, Hamas has returned the stays of 21 hostages to Israel underneath the ceasefire that started Oct. 10. The stays of seven others are nonetheless in Gaza. The technique of returning the our bodies of the final remaining hostages, as referred to as for underneath 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 in a position to attain all the stays as a result of they’re buried underneath rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel’s two-year offensive within the Gaza Strip.
Earlier Tuesday, the navy wing of Hamas stated it had recovered the physique of an Israeli soldier in Gaza and meant at hand over the stays. Israel’s assertion didn’t point out whether or not the stays had 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 navy operations or withhold humanitarian assist if all the stays should not 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. Thus far, the our bodies of 270 Palestinians have been handed over underneath 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 images of the stays on-line, within the hope that households will acknowledge them.
The battle 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 navy offensive that has killed greater than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, in response to 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 information 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 battle 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.”
