Israel, Palestine release more hostage bodies

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel had identified the latest remains returned from Gaza as hostage Dror Or, leaving the bodies of two hostages in Gaza as the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement nears a conclusion.

The identification came as Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian officials met in Cairo to discuss the second phase of the tenuous ceasefire agreement, which began in October and has held despite accusations by both sides of violations.

The next phases of the agreement include developing an international body to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction under a two-year, renewable UN mandate. An armed international stabilisation force is to keep security and ensure the disarming of Hamas, a key demand of Israel. Indonesian officials have said they plan to deploy 20,000 peacekeepers to the force.


Meanwhile, hospital officials in Gaza said Wednesday that Israel handed over 15 more Palestinian bodies.

With the latest swap, Israel has sent back to Gaza a total of 345 Palestinian bodies since the exchanges started last month, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Two hostages - one Israeli and one Thai national - remain in Gaza. Hamas said Wednesday it was determined to uphold its side of the agreement and return them both.