On Tuesday, Hamas returned the remains of one of the final two deceased hostages still located in Gaza, as reported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement established in October.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated that Israeli forces in Gaza had received what they termed “findings,” which would be transported to Israel for forensic analysis.
The two deceased hostages yet to be returned are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both of whom were abducted during the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited two years of severe conflict in Gaza.
The Geneva-based ICRC has served as a mediator between Israeli authorities and militant groups in Gaza throughout the ongoing war initiated by the Palestinian militant organization’s offensive, aiding in the release of living hostages and the transfer of remains.
Israeli airstrike claims the life of journalist: local reports
Earlier, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the death of a Palestinian individual identified by local health officials as freelance journalist Mahmoud Wadi, in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
A high-ranking Israeli military official informed Reuters that Wadi had participated in the Hamas attack in October 2023, referencing photographs as evidence. However, Reuters was unable to independently confirm this claim.
According to Gaza authorities, another Palestinian journalist sustained injuries during the Israeli attack.
Mourners gather beside the body of freelance Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Wadi, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on Tuesday at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. (Haseeb Alwazeer/Reuters)
Subsequently, the Palestinian Civil Defence service reported that Israeli tank shells struck a residence in a Gaza City neighborhood, resulting in two fatalities and injuring 15 others.
The Israeli military did not provide an immediate response to a request from Reuters regarding this incident.
The conflict in Gaza erupted following an attack by Hamas-led militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures, during an assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
On Saturday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the confirmed death toll from Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip had surpassed 70,000, with the majority being civilians.
At least 357 fatalities since October 10
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Israel has continued its airstrikes in Gaza and conducted demolitions targeting what it claims to be Hamas infrastructure. Both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of breaching the U.S.-backed agreement.
Gaza health officials report that at least 357 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire was implemented, while Israeli authorities stated that three Israeli soldiers were killed during this same timeframe by Palestinian militants.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented the deaths of 201 journalists and media personnel in Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon, where the conflict extended shortly after the initial attack in 2023.
Humanitarian organizations are sounding alarms that the volume of aid entering Gaza falls far short of what was guaranteed under the ceasefire agreement, and rainfall has left many individuals with damaged shelters or without housing as temperatures drop.
Among the deceased were journalists associated with Reuters. The total includes 193 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, six in Lebanon, and two Israelis lost in the October 7 attack.
The CPJ noted that Israel has not released the findings of any formal inquiries nor held anyone accountable for the deaths of journalists at the hands of its military.
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Israeli double-strike that killed 5 journalists sparks international condemnation
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Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif among 6 journalists killed in Israeli strike
An Israeli military representative stated that Israeli forces have focused their operations exclusively on combatants and military locations, taking care to avoid civilians and journalists. They cautioned that remaining in active combat zones carries inherent risks, despite efforts to minimize harm.
At times, they have suggested, without presenting verifiable evidence, that some journalists were killed due to their affiliations with Hamas, which the respective news organizations have denied.
