Gaza toll tops 68,000 as Israel identifies 10th hostage's remains

Gaza 's ruins were being scoured for the dead on Saturday, over a week into a ceasefire as newly recovered bodies brought the Palestinian toll above 68,000.

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Israel said the remains of a tenth hostage that Hamas handed over the day before were identified as Eliyahu Margalit.

The handover of hostages' remains, called for under the ceasefire agreement, is among key points-along with aid deliveries into Gaza and the devastated territory's future - in a process backed by much of the international community to help end two years of war.

Israel's Prime Minister's Office said Margalit's family had been notified. The 76-year-old was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war. His remains were found after bulldozers plowed up pits in the southern city of Khan Younis.

The effort to find the remaining 18 hostages followed a warning from US President Donald Trump that he would green-light Israel to resume the war if Hamas doesn't live up to its end of the deal and return them all.

In a statement, the hostage forum that supports the families of those abducted said they won't rest until the remaining hostages come home. The forum said it will continue holding weekly rallies until all are returned.