Israel hands over bodies of 45 Palestinians after Hamas returns the remains of 3 soldiers

The Israeli military launched *** wave of air strikes across Gaza on Tuesday night after the Israeli Prime Minister ordered immediate powerful strikes after accusing Hamas of being in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement. We're already getting reports of people who were killed and injured as *** result of these strikes inside of Gaza. But in terms of what the specific violations are that the Israeli government is accusing Hamas of, you know, there are several that the Israeli The government has pointed to in the last 24 hours or so, the first of which pertains to the kind of slow pace of the release of the remains of deceased hostages held in Gaza. These frustrations have been boiling over for weeks now, and on Monday we saw Hamas return what they said was the remains of *** deceased Israeli hostage. But upon DNA verification by the Israeli side, the Israeli government said That this was not one of the remains of the 13 deceased Israeli hostages still unaccounted for inside of Gaza. Instead they said that this was another piece of the remains of *** deceased hostage whose body was recovered in Gaza in late 2023 by Israeli forces. In addition to that, the Israeli military also released this new drone video which appears to show Hamas staging the recovery. Of the body of *** deceased hostage inside of Gaza. You can see as this white shroud is brought to the middle of this dug up area. It's then covered up with dirt once again by several masked Hamas militants. The body is then uncovered as if for the first time, and this actually happens twice in the course of this drone video that the Israeli military released where you can even see Red Cross officials, 3 of them. Watching the second seeming recovery of this body unfold now the Israeli military says that this is evidence of what they've been accusing Hamas of for weeks now, pretending to search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, while in fact having some of those remains already in their possession. The Red Cross for its part, saying it is unacceptable that *** fake recovery was staged and calling on all parties to abide by this ceasefire agreement. But there is another alleged Hamas violation that Israeli officials are also pointing to as Israel carried out these strikes in Gaza, and that is an exchange of fire that took place on Tuesday between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in southern Gaza in the area of the city of Rafah. An Israeli military official telling me that Hamas. Militants opened fire on Israeli troops using an RPG as well as sniper fire, and Hamas for its part says that they were not responsible for this. It's not the first time that we've seen them distance themselves from the actions of Palestinian militants in the southern part of Gaza. It is also not the first time that we've seen Israel carry out strikes in. for all of that. Last time that happened about *** week and *** half into the ceasefire, Israel carried out *** wave of strikes. It was *** very fragile moment for the ceasefire, but it didn't collapse altogether. Israel has informed the United States that it was preparing to carry out these strikes, and now the question of course is how limited will these strikes be and whether or not it will lead to *** collapse of the ceasefire altogether. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.

Updated: 1:34 PM EST Nov 3, 2025

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Updated: 1:34 PM EST Nov 3, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Israel on Monday handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, the Red Cross said, a day after militants returned the remains of three hostages. Israeli officials identified the three as troops who were killed in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered the war. Video above: Coverage from Oct. 29, deadliest day in Gaza since ceasefireThe exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the two-year conflict — the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant Hamas group. Since the truce took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now still remaining in Gaza. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Monday's return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270. The Red Cross said it had facilitated the transfer of 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Monday morning. Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson at the Gaza Health Ministry, told The Associated Press that Nasser Hospital received the bodies around noon. Only 78 of all the returned bodies have so far been identified, the ministry said. Forensic work is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, it added. The ministry posts photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will recognize them.Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office identified the three hostages returned to Israel on Sunday night as Capt. Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel and Col. Assaf Hamami. A Hamas statement earlier said their remains were found on Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza.Neutra, an American-Israeli, was 21 when Hamas militants abducted him and the rest of his tank crew on Oct. 7, 2023. In December 2024, the military announced Neutra had been killed in the attack that started the war. U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he had spoken with Neutra's family, describing their relief and heartbreak. "They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it's not too great," Trump said.Daniel, a 19-year-old staff sergeant, was pulled by militants from his tank and taken into Gaza, along with three others of his crew. He is survived by his parents and twin sister. The remains of the others were returned earlier.Hamami, commander of Israel's southern brigade in the Gaza division, died early on Oct. 7, 2023, in fighting to defend Kibbutz Nirim. Hamami and two of his soldiers were killed, and their bodies were taken to Gaza. Hamami is survived by his wife and three children.Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged a faster progress, and in certain cases, it has said the remains were not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation. Since Sunday, a political scandal has rocked Israel involving the military's former legal chief, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, after she admitted to leaking a video of Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee and resigned from office. A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter with the media, said she was arrested overnight. A frantic search was underway Sunday along a beach near Tel Aviv for Tomer-Yerushalmi, after her family raised concerns for her safety and police found her abandoned car along the coastline, reported Israel's Channel 12. Police said she was found soon after the search began.Her arrest was widely reported in Israeli media, as was the arrest of former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh, also overnight. The two appeared in court on Monday, Israeli media reported. The exchange of hostage remains for Palestinian bodies has been the central part of the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international stabilization force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on securing Gaza's borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected.Multiple nations have shown interest in taking part in a peacekeeping force but have called for a clear U.N. Security Council mandate before committing troops.Other difficult questions include Hamas' disarmament and the governance of a postwar Gaza, as well as when and how humanitarian aid will be increased.U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Jordan on Monday and call on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. She is expected to visit a warehouse where British aid remains stuck waiting to enter Gaza.Ahead of the visit, Cooper said that "humanitarian support is desperately needed and the people of Gaza cannot afford to wait.""Following the U.S.-led peace process and the plans for a substantial increase in aid for Gaza, we need an increase in crossings, an acceleration in lifting of restrictions and more agencies able to go in with aid," Cooper said.Cooper also announced that Britain will provide an extra 6 million pounds ($7.9 million) of humanitarian support for Gaza, provided by the UN Population Fund.Also Monday, Gaza's health ministry announced that a campaign to vaccinate some 40,000 Palestinian children under three years old against preventable diseases like measles, polio and meningitis will kick off next week.It will focus on children who missed routine vaccinations or received only partial doses due to the war, Dr. Nedal Ghoneim, the Health Ministry's public health manager, told the AP. The exact number of children in need of routine vaccinations is unknown due to challenges in record-keeping during the war, said Ghoneim.The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel two years ago killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.Israel, which has denied accusations by a U.N. commission of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministry's figures without providing a contradicting toll. Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Renata Brito in Jerusalem; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel; Jill Lawless in London and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.

DEIR AL-BALAH —

Video above: Coverage from Oct. 29, deadliest day in Gaza since ceasefire

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the two-year conflict — the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and the militant Hamas group.

Since the truce took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now still remaining in Gaza.

For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Monday's return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270.

The Red Cross said it had facilitated the transfer of 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza on Monday morning. Zaher al-Wahidi, a spokesperson at the Gaza Health Ministry, told The Associated Press that Nasser Hospital received the bodies around noon.

Only 78 of all the returned bodies have so far been identified, the ministry said. Forensic work is complicated by a lack of DNA testing kits in Gaza, it added. The ministry posts photos of the remains online, in the hope that families will recognize them.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office identified the three hostages returned to Israel on Sunday night as Capt. Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel and Col. Assaf Hamami. A Hamas statement earlier said their remains were found on Sunday in a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Neutra, an American-Israeli, was 21 when Hamas militants abducted him and the rest of his tank crew on Oct. 7, 2023. In December 2024, the military announced Neutra had been killed in the attack that started the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he had spoken with Neutra's family, describing their relief and heartbreak. "They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it's not too great," Trump said.

Daniel, a 19-year-old staff sergeant, was pulled by militants from his tank and taken into Gaza, along with three others of his crew. He is survived by his parents and twin sister. The remains of the others were returned earlier.

Hamami, commander of Israel's southern brigade in the Gaza division, died early on Oct. 7, 2023, in fighting to defend Kibbutz Nirim. Hamami and two of his soldiers were killed, and their bodies were taken to Gaza. Hamami is survived by his wife and three children.

Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged a faster progress, and in certain cases, it has said the remains were not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation.

Since Sunday, a political scandal has rocked Israel involving the military's former legal chief, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, after she admitted to leaking a video of Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee and resigned from office.

A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter with the media, said she was arrested overnight.

A frantic search was underway Sunday along a beach near Tel Aviv for Tomer-Yerushalmi, after her family raised concerns for her safety and police found her abandoned car along the coastline, reported Israel's Channel 12. Police said she was found soon after the search began.

Her arrest was widely reported in Israeli media, as was the arrest of former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh, also overnight. The two appeared in court on Monday, Israeli media reported.

The exchange of hostage remains for Palestinian bodies has been the central part of the initial phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The 20-point plan includes the formation of an international stabilization force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on securing Gaza's borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected.

Multiple nations have shown interest in taking part in a peacekeeping force but have called for a clear U.N. Security Council mandate before committing troops.

Other difficult questions include Hamas' disarmament and the governance of a postwar Gaza, as well as when and how humanitarian aid will be increased.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will visit Jordan on Monday and call on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. She is expected to visit a warehouse where British aid remains stuck waiting to enter Gaza.

Ahead of the visit, Cooper said that "humanitarian support is desperately needed and the people of Gaza cannot afford to wait."

"Following the U.S.-led peace process and the plans for a substantial increase in aid for Gaza, we need an increase in crossings, an acceleration in lifting of restrictions and more agencies able to go in with aid," Cooper said.

Cooper also announced that Britain will provide an extra 6 million pounds ($7.9 million) of humanitarian support for Gaza, provided by the UN Population Fund.

Also Monday, Gaza's health ministry announced that a campaign to vaccinate some 40,000 Palestinian children under three years old against preventable diseases like measles, polio and meningitis will kick off next week.

It will focus on children who missed routine vaccinations or received only partial doses due to the war, Dr. Nedal Ghoneim, the Health Ministry's public health manager, told the AP. The exact number of children in need of routine vaccinations is unknown due to challenges in record-keeping during the war, said Ghoneim.

The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel two years ago killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

Israel, which has denied accusations by a U.N. commission of inquiry and others of committing genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministry's figures without providing a contradicting toll.

Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Renata Brito in Jerusalem; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel; Jill Lawless in London and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.

Israel hands over bodies of 45 Palestinians after Hamas returns the remains of 3 soldiers

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