'Israel' has returned the first batch of Palestinian bodies to Gaza, months after admitting to holding hundreds of corpses taken from the enclave during the ongoing genocide, local health authorities told Reuters on Tuesday. 

 

The bodies of 45 Palestinians that had been in 'Israeli' custody were handed over to a Gaza hospital Tuesday, the Nasser Medical Center said.

 

Under a ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, 'Israel' was to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased 'Israeli' returned.

 

On Monday, Hamas gave up three Israeli bodies and one Nepalese for transfer.

 

In February, the 'Israeli' army acknowledged that it had transferred at least 350 bodies from Gaza to 'Israel', claiming the move was part of efforts to determine whether any belonged to 'Israeli' captives or missing persons.

 

The handover comes amid growing pressure from humanitarian organizations and families demanding the return of bodies. Although no new allegations have been made in connection with this latest transfer, the move has revived long-standing concerns linked to 'Israel’s' past record of organ harvesting from Palestinian corpses.

 

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, a Geneva-based NGO, previously expressed alarm over reports of “possible organ theft” from Palestinian bodies held by 'Israeli' forces. In late 2023, the group cited Gaza-based medical professionals who examined released bodies and reportedly found vital organs, including livers, kidneys, and hearts, as well as cochleas and corneas missing.

 

Euro-Med documented 'Israeli' forces confiscating dozens of bodies from the al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals in northern Gaza in 2023, as well as from southern areas. The organization also alleged that 'Israeli' troops exhumed and removed corpses from a mass grave in the courtyard of al-Shifa Hospital.

 

'Israel' has rejected accusations of organ harvesting, calling the claims “antisemitic”. 'Israeli' officials insist that bodies are held temporarily for identification and security purposes.

 

Medical experts in Gaza cited by Euro-Med noted that confirming organ theft is difficult, as many of the deceased had undergone surgery prior to death.

 

Rights groups have repeatedly called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to oversee future body transfers and forensic examinations.

 

The Gaza Health Ministry has not yet confirmed the number of bodies included in the latest release.