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Israeli officials have identified the remains of a returned hostage Hamas As 76-year-old Eliyahu Margalit.
Mr. Margalit was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he worked in horse stables, on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’ initial attacks.
it was 10th dead hostage returned since The ceasefire came into effect a week agoHamas also handed over an 11th body this week, although it was not that of a hostage.
Meanwhile, Hamas continues to search for more bodies under the debris in Gaza, as well as demanding More humanitarian aid will be allowed into the besieged area,
This comes after the US President’s warning donald trumpwho indicated that he would give the green signal israel The military operation will be resumed if Hamas fails to return the bodies of all 28 hostages.
The Hostage Forum, which supports the families of the kidnapped, said that although Mr. Margalit’s return provides some comfort, they will not stop their efforts until the remaining 18 hostages are brought home. The group has promised to continue weekly rallies until all remains are accounted for.
In a process supported by the international community to help end the devastating two-year war in Gaza, the demand for the handover of the remains of hostages under the ceasefire agreement has been one of the key points – along with hopes of aid delivery, opening of border crossings in Gaza and reconstruction.
Hamas has said it remains committed to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, including handing over the bodies. However, recovery of bodies is being hampered by the scope of the destruction and the presence of dangerous, unexploded ordnance.
The group also told mediators that some bodies were in areas controlled by Israeli troops.
Mr Margalit’s body was found after two bulldozers dug a hole in the ground in the city of Khan Yunis.
Meanwhile, Hamas had also urged mediators to increase the flow of aid to Gaza, accelerate the opening of the Rafah border with Egypt and begin reconstruction of the damaged area.
The flow of aid continues to be disrupted due to the continued closure of crossings and restrictions on aid groups.
UN data on Friday showed that 339 trucks had been unloaded for distribution in Gaza since the ceasefire began a week ago. Under the agreement, about 600 humanitarian aid trucks will be allowed entry each day.
COGAT, the Israeli defense agency that oversees aid in Gaza, reported crossings of 950 trucks on Thursday – including commercial trucks and bilateral deliveries – and 716 trucks on Wednesday, the UN said.
Gaza’s more than two million people are hoping the ceasefire will bring relief from the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel’s offensive. Throughout the war, Israel restricted aid entry into Gaza – sometimes blocking it altogether.
Famine was declared in Gaza City, and the United Nations says it has confirmed more than 400 people have died from malnutrition-related causes, including more than 100 children.
Israel says it provided sufficient food and accuses Hamas of stealing most of it. The United Nations and other aid agencies deny this claim.
Nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to the health ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government in the territory. Its figures are viewed by United Nations agencies and many independent experts as reliable estimates of deaths during the war.
Israel has disputed them without providing its toll.
Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross.