Gaza’s Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that the remains of 30 Palestinians were handed over by Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement, with several bodies showing evidence of physical abuse.

According to the ministry, the transfer was carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Many of the bodies bore signs of severe mistreatment, including bruises, bound wrists, and blindfolded eyes.

The latest handover brings the total number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel since October 14 to 195. Of these, only 57 have been identified so far. Families have been struggling to recognize their loved ones by remnants of clothing or distinguishable features, as years of blockade and the destruction of Gaza’s forensic laboratories have made proper DNA testing impossible.

Earlier the same day, the Gaza government organized a mass funeral for 54 of the returned victims whose remains could not be identified due to severe disfigurement reportedly caused by torture.

Before the truce, the Palestinian National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs’ Bodies reported that Israel was holding 735 Palestinian corpses. Meanwhile, Haaretz revealed that the Israeli army continues to detain around 1,500 bodies of Palestinians from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, a site widely criticized for alleged human rights violations.

The ceasefire deal, mediated by regional and international actors, came into effect on October 10. Its first phase included the exchange of hostages and prisoners, a limited Israeli withdrawal, and plans for Gaza’s reconstruction under a new administrative framework excluding Hamas.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, at least 68,200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,300 wounded, according to the Health Ministry — figures that continue to rise as recovery efforts persist beneath the rubble.