Israel returned the remains of 15 more Palestinians

(Patria) - The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that it received the remains of 15 more Palestinians from Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.

The Ministry's statement stated that the new transfer increased the number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel to 330 since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10.

"Forensic teams have so far identified 97 bodies and continue examinations in accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols before the remains are documented and handed over to families," the Ministry announced.

Palestinian authorities stated that many of the bodies handed over by Israel show signs of abuse, including beatings, bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, and that they were returned without names.

Families are trying to identify the remains of their relatives by physical marks or clothing, as forensic facilities in Gaza remain non-operational due to years of Israeli blockade and destruction of laboratories.

Before the ceasefire, Israel held 735 Palestinian bodies in so-called "number cemeteries," according to the Palestinian National Campaign to Find Bodies.

The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" also reported that the army holds about 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the notorious Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel.

Israel has killed nearly 69,200 people and wounded over 170,700, mostly women and children, in its brutal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, reducing the enclave to ruins.