Israel Hands Over Bodies of 45 Palestinians After Hamas Returns the Remains of 3 Soldiers

KHAN YUNIS, GAZA – NOVEMBER 03: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) receives the bodies of 45 Palestinians held by the Israeli army as part of a prisoner/ hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, with the ninth group of remains transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on November 03, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians, according to the Red Cross. It comes a day after militants returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers killed in a Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The exchange is part of a U.S.-brokered cease fire aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Since the truce began in October, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight still in Gaza. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians, totaling 270 since the cease fire started.