Exchange of bodies in Gaza is continuing

> Search operations continue yesterday in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages from Gaza

- ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTERS

ISRAEL has handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, health officials in Gaza said yesterday, a day after Hamas returned the remains of three hostages.

Israeli officials identified the three as soldiers who were killed in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that triggered the war in Gaza.

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous United States-brokered ceasefire in the two-year war - the deadliest and most destructive fought between Israel and the Gaza-based Hamas militant group.

Since the truce took effect on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight now still remaining in Gaza. For each hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Yesterday's return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270.