Khan younis: Israel returned the remains of 15 more Palestinians on Wednesday under a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas, medics reported. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed that the bodies were transferred to their facility by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), although further details were not provided.

According to Anadolu Agency, this recent handover brings the total number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel since the ceasefire took effect on October 10 to 285. The Gaza Health Ministry had earlier indicated that many of the bodies showed signs of abuse, such as beatings, bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, and were returned without identification.

Families in Gaza have been attempting to identify their relatives' remains through physical markings or clothing, as forensic facilities in the region have been incapacitated due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and the destruction of essential laboratories.

Prior to the ceasefire, Israel reportedly held 735 Palestinian bodies in what are known as 'cemeteries of numbers,' as stated by the Palestinian National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs' Bodies. The Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that approximately 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza were held at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel.

Phase one of the ceasefire agreement involves the exchange of prisoners and bodies between Israel and Hamas. The plan also includes the reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism that excludes Hamas.

Since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in nearly 69,000 deaths and over 170,600 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.