Israel recovers soldier’s remains from Gaza

Red Cross teams transferred the remains of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin from Gaza, and Israeli authorities confirmed forensic tests identified the body as Goldin’s. The handover occurred amid a fragile ceasefire that has eased hostilities between Israel and Hamas-led militants and enabled increased humanitarian access and the return of many Palestinians to damaged homes. Israeli officials expressed condolences to Goldin’s family; Goldin, 23, was killed by Hamas fighters in 2014 shortly after a previous ceasefire, and his family had campaigned publicly for 11 years to recover his remains.

The transfer formed part of a wider exchange tied to the current ceasefire, under which Hamas has released 20 living hostages and the remains of 24 others; four bodies reportedly remain in Gaza, including three Israelis and one Thai national taken during the October 2023 attack that also saw 251 people seized hostage. Gaza health authorities say Israel has returned roughly 300 Palestinian bodies, many still awaiting identification.

The broader conflict has inflicted heavy casualties and destruction. Israeli figures state about 1,200 people were killed in the initial 2023 attack, mostly civilians, while Gaza health authorities report more than 69,000 Palestinian deaths from Israel’s subsequent military campaign, with many casualties attributed to strikes and demolitions that have continued even after the ceasefire. Though fighting has diminished and some Israeli troops have withdrawn from urban positions, sporadic strikes and operations persist, and international observers continue to monitor the tense situation closely.

Diplomatic and security arrangements around Gaza’s future remain in flux. Israeli officials said Turkish troops will not participate in a proposed multinational stabilization force intended to assume security responsibilities as Israeli forces withdraw. The U.S.-backed plan envisages contributions from states including Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan, though roles and participation are still being negotiated. Egyptian and Qatari ministers reiterated commitment to consolidating the ceasefire and discussed implementation steps for a proposed peace plan, stressing the need to link the West Bank and Gaza to preserve Palestinian territorial and political unity and promote Palestinian management of internal affairs.