Overview
- Israeli authorities identified the remains of Amiram Kuper, 85, and Sahar Baruch, 25, after a Red Cross handover and forensic checks by the National Institute, police and the IDF Rabbinate.
- The tally of bodies returned under the deal rose to 17 of 28, part of a truce that freed all surviving hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and provides for the exchange of 360 Palestinian fighters’ remains.
- Israeli attacks continued despite the pause, with WAFA reporting two Palestinians killed Thursday night and Gaza officials citing 104 dead in earlier strikes; Israel said it targeted threats and then reinstated the ceasefire.
- Trust was further strained after Hamas delivered partial remains on Oct 27 that Israeli forensics said were already recovered previously, triggering public anger and retaliatory strikes.
- The military says it has not determined whether Baruch was killed by Israeli fire during a failed 2023 rescue or by Hamas, as mediators warn Gaza risks a ‘no war, no peace’ limbo without an international force and interim administration.