Israel Returns 15 Palestinian Bodies to Gaza
GAZA STRIP – Israeli authorities handed over the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza officials on Tuesday,according to hospital authorities in the territory. The transfer brings the total number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel since the start of its offensive to 69,775, with an additional 170,863 reported injured as of the same date.
Gaza’s Health Ministry, staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed records considered generally reliable by independent experts, states that the majority of those killed are women and children, though it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its overall figures.
the return of bodies comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to solidify the current ceasefire and plan for future stabilization. Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met in Cairo Tuesday with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Hasan Reshat to discuss advancing to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The officials also focused on coordinating with the United States to strengthen the truce and deepen cooperation with the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) to prevent violations.
Simultaneously occurring, Indonesia is preparing troops for a potential international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza. Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces, Gen. Agus Subianto, announced Tuesday that the country is in the selection phase for a peacekeeping contingent, planned to be led by a three-star general and comprised of health, engineering, and mechanized support battalions. Indonesia is also preparing supporting assets, including hospital warships, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and helicopters. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin indicated deployment awaits a formal order from President Prabowo Subianto, who has previously stated Indonesia is ready to deploy 20,000 peacekeepers. Indonesia was the fifth-largest contributor to U.N. peacekeeping operations as of September,deploying 2,731 personnel.
