Israel released five Palestinian detainees to Al‑Aqsa Hospital in Deir el‑Balah under a fragile ceasefire, giving families brief relief. Gaza’s Health Ministry received 45 more bodies via the ICRC, bringing the total handed over to 270, of which 78 have been identified. Officials report many bodies show signs consistent with torture and fear unidentified remains may be buried in mass graves. Despite the truce, deadly incidents and alleged ceasefire violations continue, raising concerns of renewed large‑scale fighting.
Israel Frees Five Palestinian Prisoners Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire; Forensics Reveal Grim Toll
Israel released five Palestinian detainees to Al‑Aqsa Hospital in Deir el‑Balah under a fragile ceasefire, giving families brief relief. Gaza’s Health Ministry received 45 more bodies via the ICRC, bringing the total handed over to 270, of which 78 have been identified. Officials report many bodies show signs consistent with torture and fear unidentified remains may be buried in mass graves. Despite the truce, deadly incidents and alleged ceasefire violations continue, raising concerns of renewed large‑scale fighting.
01:58, 04.11.2025Conflict
Five Palestinians released as ceasefire holds tenuously
Israel released five Palestinian prisoners on Monday evening as part of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas, offering a brief moment of relief for families in Gaza. The men were taken to Al‑Aqsa Hospital in Deir el‑Balah for medical checks, where relatives gathered — some embracing the freed detainees while others anxiously sought news of missing family members.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from outside the hospital, said:
“This is the first time since the ceasefire that Israeli forces have released unknown Palestinian prisoners.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry said it received the remains of 45 Palestinians from Israel via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), bringing the total transferred under the ceasefire to 270. Forensic teams have so far identified 78 bodies and will continue examinations "in accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols" before returning remains to families.
Officials previously reported that many returned bodies bore signs consistent with torture — including bound hands, blindfolds and facial disfigurement — and some were returned without identification tags. Reporters in Deir el‑Balah warned that unidentified remains could be buried in mass graves if families cannot identify them.
The transfers form part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, which foresees exchanges of prisoners and bodies mediated by Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, with involvement from the United States.
Despite the truce, deadly incidents were reported: a source at Nasser Medical Complex said three Palestinians were killed north of Rafah, and al‑Ahli Arab Hospital reported three wounded — including a child — in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military said it struck areas in southern Gaza after alleging people crossed an Israeli‑controlled “yellow line”; that account could not be independently verified and it was unclear whether it referred to the Rafah incident.
Reporters in Gaza City also described the use of quadcopter drones to drop grenades on partially standing buildings — actions local authorities call ceasefire violations. The Gaza Government Media Office says there have been more than 125 alleged ceasefire violations since the truce began and warned that continued attacks risk reigniting full-scale hostilities.