Israel on Monday released five Palestinian prisoners under a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, offering a rare glimmer of hope for families in Gaza. The five men, who were freed on Monday evening, are undergoing medical examinations at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah.
Their release comes as part of the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since October 10, which includes prisoner and body exchanges mediated by Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and the US. However, despite this fragile peace, Israel continued to carry out deadly attacks on Monday.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire north of Rafah in southern Gaza, with a source at Nasser Medical Complex stating that these were the third such incident on the same day. The Israeli army claimed that individuals had crossed an "yellow line" area, which they say is subject to ceasefire restrictions.
Meanwhile, forensic teams have identified 78 bodies so far among the remains of 45 Palestinians received from Israel through the Red Cross. These bodies will be examined in accordance with medical procedures before being returned to their families, who are anxiously searching for information about missing relatives.
The handover forms part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which has been marred by allegations of torture and abuse on Palestinian bodies. Many of these bodies have bore evidence of such treatment, including bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, with some handed over without identification tags.
Families are now seeking to identify their loved ones among the returned remains, in case they are not identified, they will be buried along with other Palestinians in a mass grave in Deir el-Balah. Despite efforts towards peace, Gaza's Health Ministry warns that continued attacks threaten to reignite full-scale hostilities.
In addition to these incidents, Israel has also been accused of committing over 125 ceasefire violations since the truce took effect, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
Their release comes as part of the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since October 10, which includes prisoner and body exchanges mediated by Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and the US. However, despite this fragile peace, Israel continued to carry out deadly attacks on Monday.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire north of Rafah in southern Gaza, with a source at Nasser Medical Complex stating that these were the third such incident on the same day. The Israeli army claimed that individuals had crossed an "yellow line" area, which they say is subject to ceasefire restrictions.
Meanwhile, forensic teams have identified 78 bodies so far among the remains of 45 Palestinians received from Israel through the Red Cross. These bodies will be examined in accordance with medical procedures before being returned to their families, who are anxiously searching for information about missing relatives.
The handover forms part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which has been marred by allegations of torture and abuse on Palestinian bodies. Many of these bodies have bore evidence of such treatment, including bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, with some handed over without identification tags.
Families are now seeking to identify their loved ones among the returned remains, in case they are not identified, they will be buried along with other Palestinians in a mass grave in Deir el-Balah. Despite efforts towards peace, Gaza's Health Ministry warns that continued attacks threaten to reignite full-scale hostilities.
In addition to these incidents, Israel has also been accused of committing over 125 ceasefire violations since the truce took effect, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.