The Israeli military has announced the recovery of the remains of three hostages who were held in the Gaza Strip.
The identified remains belong to Yonatan Samerano, 21; Ofra Keidar, 70; and Shay Levinson, 19. All three were killed during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing conflict.
It is believed that the militant group continues to hold 50 hostages, with fewer than half thought to be alive.
The military has not released specific details regarding the recovery operation. It remains unclear whether an air strike that resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians was connected to the recovery.
“The effort to return the hostages is ongoing and is proceeding alongside the actions against Iran,” stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kobi Samerano shared in a Facebook post that his son Yonatan’s remains were recovered on what would have been his 23rd birthday.
During the October 7th attack, Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel, predominantly civilians, and abducted 251 individuals. To date, more than half of the hostages have been returned through ceasefire agreements or negotiated deals, eight have been rescued alive, and Israeli forces have recovered the remains of several dozen.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 55,000 Palestinians. The ministry reports that women and children comprise more than half of those killed, and it does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
Al-Awda Hospital reported that four people were killed in an air strike on Sunday within the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The hospital also stated that 22 others sustained injuries while waiting for aid trucks.
Palestinian witnesses and health officials have stated that Israeli forces have repeatedly fired upon crowds seeking essential food supplies, resulting in hundreds of deaths in recent weeks. The military asserts that it has fired warning shots at individuals perceived as approaching its forces in a suspicious manner.
The Hostages Families Forum, the primary organization representing the families of the hostages, has consistently advocated for a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives.
“Given the current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to stress that the return of the 50 remaining hostages is crucial for achieving any kind of victory,” the forum said in a statement released on Sunday.
Hamas has stated that it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a sustained ceasefire, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Mr. Netanyahu has rejected these conditions, stating that Israel will continue its military campaign until all hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated, disarmed, and exiled. He has also stated that Israel will maintain long-term control over Gaza and facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of a significant portion of its population, a plan that Palestinians consider to be forcible expulsion.
In other news, World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by chef Jose Andres, announced that it has resumed the distribution of hot meals in Gaza. This marks the first time in six weeks that the charity has operated in the region, after suspending its activities due to Israel’s blockade, which was partially lifted last month amid growing concerns of famine.
