The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported that Israel has returned the bodies of nearly 90 Palestinians killed in its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Yamen Abu Suleiman, the director of the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, stated that the bodies had been returned without any information or identification, calling it a war crime and a crime against humanity. The bodies will be examined to determine the causes of death before being buried in a mass grave.
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of ‘stealing’ 2,000 bodies since October 7, sending them back in an inhumane manner. They claimed that Israeli forces had dug up graves in several locations and transferred the bodies to unknown places, constituting war crimes. Hamas described the returned bodies as being in a state of complete decomposition, condemning the actions of the Israeli occupation forces.
There has been no official comment from the Israeli military regarding the return of the bodies. The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing the handover of bodies without a ceasefire deal with Hamas. They suggested that a comprehensive agreement could bring back living hostages and allow for proper burials of the deceased.
Tensions in the region are escalating, with concerns raised about the remaining captives taken during the October 7 attack. Critics believe Netanyahu’s decision-making is influenced by internal political factors, potentially prolonging the conflict. The situation remains volatile, with no ceasefire deal in sight.
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