U.S. Envoys Push to Extend Ceasefire as First Phase Nears End; Israel Returns 15 Palestinian Remains

U.S. envoys press to advance truce as first phase of Israel-Hamas ceasefire winds down

Israel on Monday returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza in a step forward for a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, as a senior envoy met with Israeli leaders to discuss next steps for the fragile agreement. The transfer followed the release of an Israeli hostage’s remains by Palestinian militants; with the latest exchange, four hostage remains are reported to still be in Gaza.

High-level meetings and the next phase

Jared Kushner, a former senior adviser to President Donald Trump and one of the architects of Washington’s 20-point ceasefire plan, met in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a photo released by the prime minister’s office. Officials are discussing how to move beyond the initial halt in fighting to a second phase that would include arrangements for governance in Gaza and deployment of an international stabilization force—plans that remain unresolved.

The exchange of remains and identification challenges

The Gaza Health Ministry said the International Committee of the Red Cross handed over the 15 Palestinian bodies Monday, bringing the total returned under the agreement to 315. Under the current formula, Israel has been releasing the remains of about 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage returned. Only 91 of the bodies returned so far have been positively identified; forensic work in Gaza is hampered by shortages of DNA testing kits. The ministry has been publishing photos of remains online in hopes that families will identify lost relatives.

The handover came after Israel confirmed it had received the remains of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in the Gaza Strip in 2014. Goldin’s case had been a longstanding source of national grief in Israel: he was 23 when he was killed roughly two hours after a ceasefire took effect in 2014, and his family campaigned for 11 years to recover his remains.

Background: the conflict and casualties

Observers recall the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault into southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and resulted in 251 people being taken captive, triggering the current war. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the Palestinian death toll in Gaza as 69,176 as of Saturday.

Stalled talks and sensitive negotiations

Details for a second phase remain thorny. Among the outstanding issues are the deployment and mandate of an international security force, disarming Hamas, and interim or long-term arrangements for governing Gaza. According to a person close to the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity, Kushner has been involved in efforts to arrange safe passage or relocation for roughly 150–200 Hamas fighters trapped in a so-called “yellow zone” controlled by Israeli forces, in exchange for them surrendering arms; Hamas has not publicly confirmed such proposals.

West Bank: Umm Al-Khair faces demolition orders

In the occupied West Bank, the small Palestinian village of Umm Al-Khair—featured in the documentary "No Other Land"—is bracing for Israeli military bulldozers after receiving orders to demolish 14 structures, including a community center, a greenhouse and family homes. Residents say building permits in Area C are nearly impossible to obtain; Bimkom, an Israeli planning rights group, reported that between 2016 and 2021 Israel rejected about 99% of Palestinian building permit requests in Area C.

Umm Al-Khair was established in the 1950s by Bedouin families displaced from the Negev. Residents say settler violence increased after the nearby Carmel settlement was built in the 1980s. Earlier this year an internationally sanctioned Israeli settler shot and killed community leader Awdah Hathaleen inside the same community center now slated for demolition.

Note: Numbers and details reflect statements from Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli officials and other sources cited in reporting; some figures are subject to verification and differing counts.