Gaza health authorities report that numerous returned bodies exhibit signs of violence and possible execution.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has announced the receipt of 45 Palestinian bodies previously held in Israeli detention, delivered through the International Committee of the Red Cross. This latest transfer raises the total number of gaza-ceasefire-voting-rights-court/” title=”Tensions Rise as … … Faces Test and Voting Rights Act Heads to Court: NPR”>returned remains to 90, as part of a ceasefire agreement facilitated by the United States.
Medical personnel are actively engaged in the process of examining, documenting, and preparing the bodies for handover to families, adhering strictly to established medical protocols and procedures, the Ministry stated on Wednesday.
According to the terms of the ceasefire, supported by US President Donald Trump and designed to halt the two-year conflict in Gaza, Israel agreed to return 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli deceased repatriated. The recent delivery of 45 bodies occurred on Monday.
Families in Gaza anxiously awaited updates on the remains received at Nasser Hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday. Forensic experts reported alarming conditions, with many bodies showing evidence of physical mistreatment.
Several of the bodies were found blindfolded and handcuffed, suggesting the possibility of extrajudicial killings, medical sources informed Al Jazeera.
Further transfers of bodies from Israel are anticipated, though officials have not disclosed the total number in custody or the exact figures planned for return. It remains uncertain whether these remains were exhumed from cemeteries during Israeli ground operations or if they belonged to detainees who died amid the military offensive. Throughout the conflict, Israeli forces have conducted exhumations in their search for missing captives.
As forensic teams processed the initial batch of returned bodies, the Health Ministry released photographs of 32 unidentified individuals to assist families in recognizing their missing loved ones.
Many of the bodies showed signs of decomposition or burning. Some were missing limbs or teeth, while others were covered in sand and dust. Due to Israeli restrictions on importing DNA testing equipment into Gaza, morgues have often had to rely on physical characteristics and clothing for identification purposes.
The forensic team noted that some bodies arrived still shackled and bore clear indications of abuse.
“Evidence points to torture and executions,” stated Sameh Hamad, a member of the commission responsible for receiving the bodies at Nasser Hospital.
The deceased ranged in age from 25 to 70 years old. Most had bands around their necks, with one individual found with a rope tied around his neck. While the majority wore civilian attire, some were dressed in uniforms, implying they were Palestinian combatants.
Hamad added that the Red Cross provided names for only three of the deceased, leaving many families uncertain about the fate of their relatives.
Since October 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that nearly 68,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to the Israeli military campaign. Palestinian authorities suggest the actual death toll may be significantly higher, with tens of thousands of bodies believed to remain buried under rubble.
Thousands more individuals are reported missing, according to data from the Red Cross and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Among those waiting at Nasser Hospital was 52-year-old Rasmiya Qudeih, hoping her son was among the 45 bodies returned on Wednesday. He disappeared on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas launched its attack, and she was informed he was killed in an Israeli strike.
“God willing, he will be among the returned,” she expressed.
The Health Ministry shared footage showing medical staff examining the bodies, confirming that remains will either be returned to families or interred if identification proves impossible.
International human rights organizations and a United Nations Commission of Inquiry have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Additionally, South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel denies these allegations.
