INTERNATIONAL

Israel says three returned remains not hostages

Israel said Saturday that three bodies handed over by Hamas this week are not those of hostages, dimming momentum in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The transfer came after Israel returned 30 Palestinian bodies, following militants’ earlier delivery of two hostages’ remains. Hamas said it had offered to provide samples first, but Israel declined and requested the remains for examination; who the three are remains unknown. Since the Oct. 10 truce, militants have released 17 hostages’ remains, while Israel has repatriated 225 Palestinian bodies. The fragile deal wobbled after Israeli strikes killed more than 100 in Gaza.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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