Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis receives 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for Israeli-American soldier’s remains under US-brokered ceasefire deal.
KHAN YUNIS: Gaza’s Nasser Hospital has received the bodies of 15 Palestinian prisoners under the ongoing US-brokered ceasefire exchange agreement.
Hospital authorities confirmed the tenth batch of bodies arrived at the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza.
“The tenth batch of the bodies of Palestinian martyrs has arrived at Nasser Medical Complex in the Gaza Strip, numbering 15 martyrs,” the hospital stated.
This brings the total number of Palestinian bodies received under the agreement to 285.
The exchange was made for the body of Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, returned from Gaza on Tuesday.
Under terms effective since October 10, Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage body received.
Hamas initially held 48 hostages in Gaza – 20 alive and 28 deceased.
The group has since released all surviving captives and 21 deceased hostages’ remains.
Israel accuses Hamas of delaying the return of deceased hostages’ bodies.
Hamas claims the slow process results from many bodies being buried under Gaza’s rubble.
The Palestinian group has repeatedly requested mediators and the Red Cross provide equipment and personnel for body recovery efforts. – AFP
