Missing bodies of hostages top list of uncertainties as Gaza ceasefire holds

The tenuous ceasefire in the two-year Israel-Hamas war was holding on ‘Tuesday even as complex issues remained ahead, a day after widespread jubilation over the return to Israel of the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

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‘The list of more immediate questions includes those on when Hamas will return to Israel the bodies of the 28 hostages believed to be dead in Gaza, as well as the health conditions of the released hostages and prisoners.

Only four of the deceased hostages - whose release is also part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump - were turned over to Israeli authorities on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military identified two of them - Guy Ilouz from Israel and Bipin Joshi, a student from Nepal.

The two men were both in their 20s when Hamas-led militants took them during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war - Illouz from the Nova music festival and Joshi from a bomb shelter.