Gaza: The Ministry of Health in Gaza received on Saturday the bodies of 15 Palestinian martyrs as part of a prisoner exchange deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israeli occupation. This brings the total number of martyrs' bodies received from Israel through the Red Cross to 330.
According to Qatar News Agency, the identities of 97 martyrs have so far been confirmed by their families out of the 330 bodies. Medical teams continue to handle the remains in accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols, in preparation for completing examinations, documentation, and handover to families.
The handover of the Palestinian martyrs' bodies comes as part of the prisoner exchange deal conducted between Hamas and the Israeli occupation under the ceasefire and end-of-war agreement in Gaza, which came into effect on 11 October. Under the first phase of the deal, Hamas released 20 Israeli prisoners alive and several bodies, while Israeli occupation freed 250 high-sentence and life-sentenced prisoners along with 1,718 prisoners from Gaza Strip who were detained after October 7, 2023.