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

The original story by Wafaa Shurafa and Julia Frankel for AP.

Israel on Monday transferred the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza, the Red Cross said — a day after militants returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack.

The exchange is part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal now in effect since Oct. 10. Under the arrangement, militants have released the remains of 20 hostages so far, with eight still in Gaza. For every hostage’s remains returned, Israel sends back 15 Palestinian bodies — bringing the total to 270 Palestinians repatriated since the truce began.

The Red Cross said Monday morning’s transfer went ahead, and Gaza’s Nasser Hospital received the bodies around noon. Only 78 of the repatriated remains have been identified so far, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which says the work is hampered by a shortage of DNA test kits. Officials have been posting photos online in hopes families can recognize loved ones.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office identified the three Israelis whose remains were returned Sunday night as:

• Capt. Omer Neutra, 21, an American-Israeli tank commander abducted on Oct. 7 (the military said in Dec. 2024 he had been killed in the attack);

• Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19, a member of Neutra’s tank crew taken into Gaza (another crewman, Nimrod Cohen, was released alive earlier; a third crew member’s body was previously recovered);

• Col. Assaf Hamami, commander of the Gaza division’s southern brigade, killed defending Kibbutz Nirim on Oct. 7 and taken into Gaza.

Hamas said the remains were found in a tunnel in southern Gaza. President Donald Trump said he spoke with Neutra’s family:

“Thrilled, in one sense,” he said, “but … it’s not too great.”

Meanwhile in Israel and the West Bank

• Leak scandal arrests: Former IDF legal chief Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi — who admitted leaking a video showing soldiers assaulting a Palestinian detainee — was arrested Sunday night. A judge extended her detention 48 hours on suspicion of offenses including fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction. Ex–chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also arrested and remanded, Israeli media reported.

• Two Palestinians killed: The Palestinian Health Ministry said Jamil Hanani, 17, was shot dead by Israeli fire in Beit Furik; the army said troops fired at rock-throwers. Separately, Ahmed Al-Atrash, 32, was fatally shot by an Israeli settler near Hebron; police did not immediately comment.

Aid and health updates

• UK push on aid: British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Jordan, urging faster entry for aid and announcing £6 million (about $7.9 million) more via the UN Population Fund.

• Vaccination drive: Gaza’s Health Ministry will start vaccinating about 40,000 children under 3 next week against measles, polio, and meningitis, targeting kids who missed shots during the war.

The Oct. 7 attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 68,800 people in Gaza, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t separate civilians from combatants. Israel rejects genocide allegations and disputes the figures but hasn’t provided a separate count.

Bottom line: Monday’s transfer keeps a fragile ceasefire moving — but between grinding forensics in Gaza, political shockwaves in Israel, and continued violence in the West Bank, the path to closure remains long.