Israel has received a further 19 bodies from Hamas, but officials state none are confirmed hostages, according to reports Friday. The return of the remains, recovered from Gaza, comes amid ongoing conflict and heightened scrutiny over the fate of individuals taken captive during the October 7 attacks.
The latest handover follows weeks of negotiations mediated by Qatar,Egypt,and the United States,aimed at securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. While the identities of the deceased are still being verified, Israeli authorities have confirmed they are not among the 136 hostages remaining in Gaza. The process of identifying the bodies has been slow, as previously reported.
In the central West Bank town of Silwad on Friday, a funeral was held for Yamen Hamed, 15, who Palestinian health officials say was shot by an Israeli soldier. His father stated his son left home on Thursday to meet friends, and he later learned the teenager had been injured.An ambulance driver attempting to reach Hamed reported being repeatedly delayed by Israeli troops, and the boy died before medical assistance could arrive.
The Israeli military labeled Hamed a “terrorist,” alleging troops fired believing he was carrying an explosive device, but has not yet provided supporting evidence.
