Israel Returns 30 Palestinian Bodies Showing Signs of Torture as Gaza Ceasefire Wavers:

Thirty more bodies of Palestinians detained by Israel have been returned to the Gaza Strip, with several showing clear signs of torture and mistreatment. The remains were handed over via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of a prisoner exchange deal, even as Israeli air strikes continued across Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that Friday’s handover brought the total number of bodies received to 225 since the exchange process began. Medical teams in Gaza are now working to identify the victims using standard forensic procedures before informing their families. Medical sources say that many of the returned bodies bore evidence of severe abuse — some were blindfolded, handcuffed, burned, or missing limbs and teeth, fueling accusations of torture in Israeli detention facilities. Israel currently holds thousands of Palestinians, many under administrative detention without formal charges, a practice widely condemned by human rights groups. The body transfers are part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal signed in early October. Under the accord, Hamas released 20 Israeli captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, the truce remains shaky. Despite Israel’s partial withdrawal from urban centers, its forces have carried out multiple strikes and raids since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, killing dozens of Palestinians, including children. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 104 Palestinians were killed between Tuesday and Wednesday alone, among them 46 children and 20 women. On Friday, Israeli air raids targeted areas in Khan Younis, while shelling and gunfire in Gaza City and Jabalia refugee camp left at least three more Palestinians dead. Rescue workers also recovered bodies from the rubble of bombed homes in central Gaza. Meanwhile, the Red Cross confirmed it had transferred three unidentified bodies to Israel for forensic testing, possibly the remains of deceased captives. Hamas has so far returned the bodies of 17 Israeli captives, with plans to locate and recover more under the supervision of Red Cross teams. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid. Only a limited number of aid trucks have been allowed to enter Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands struggling with famine and displacement. Al Jazeera’s correspondents report that Palestinians face immense difficulty accessing food and shelter materials from UN warehouses. On the diplomatic front, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced a high-level meeting set for Monday to discuss the future of the Gaza ceasefire and the potential formation of a “Gaza stabilisation task force.” Amid growing scrutiny of Israel’s detention practices, the Israeli army’s top legal officer, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, was dismissed following the leak of a video showing a Palestinian detainee being sexually assaulted by troops at the Sde Teiman detention facility. The site has long been accused of severe human rights violations. As international concern mounts, questions remain over whether Israel will uphold the ceasefire or escalate further — even as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.

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