Israel returns 30 bodies of slain Palestinians as new strikes hit Gaza

Gaza: Israel has returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians who died in its custody to the Gaza Strip, even as fresh Israeli air strikes hit several areas of the enclave, killing at least three people on Friday, according to Palestinian officials and local media.

The transfer of the remains, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is part of the ongoing prisoner–captive exchange deal agreed in early October. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the latest handover brings the total number of bodies received to 225.

Medical teams in Gaza are working to identify the bodies and notify families. Health authorities said several of the returned bodies bore signs of torture, including blindfolds, handcuffs, and severe burns, while others were missing limbs or teeth. Similar findings were reported in earlier transfers.

Israeli forces continued to carry out strikes despite a tenuous ceasefire. The Wafa news agency reported that one Palestinian was killed and his brother wounded by Israeli gunfire in the Shujayea neighborhood of eastern Gaza City. Another person was killed by Israeli shelling in the Jabalia refugee camp, while a third died of wounds sustained in earlier attacks.

Civil defense workers in central Gaza said they also recovered the body of a Palestinian from the rubble of the Abu Medein family home in the az-Zahra neighborhood. Air strikes were also reported in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

The handover of the slain detainees follows a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that brought a temporary halt to Israel’s two-year military campaign in Gaza. Under the accord, Hamas released 20 living captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian political prisoners, while Israeli forces began a limited withdrawal from Gaza’s urban centers.

Despite the agreement, Israeli attacks have continued intermittently across the Strip. Between Tuesday and Wednesday alone, Gaza’s Health Ministry said 104 Palestinians were killed, including 46 children and 20 women.

Human rights organizations have long accused Israel of torturing Palestinian detainees and holding thousands without trial under “administrative detention.” Reports of mistreatment have increased since the start of the war.

On the other side, Pakistan raises voice for Kashmir and Palestine in New York at UN General Assembly.

Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the people of Kashmir and Palestine, calling for an end to oppression and foreign occupation during a session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Addressing the Assembly, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar, urged the international community and the UN Human Rights Council to play a more active role in protecting the rights of oppressed nations.

He stressed that the Council must safeguard the fundamental rights of people living under occupation, without any form of discrimination.

“Peace cannot be achieved without ending foreign occupation and ensuring the right to self-determination,” Ambassador Iftikhar said, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for justice and freedom for the people of Kashmir and Palestine.