Forensic Experts Identify Bodies Returned to Gaza Amid Ongoing Uncertainty

Palestinian forensic experts are working to identify 120 bodies returned to Gaza by Israel. The bodies, marked only with numbers, were found in various states, with some appearing to be blindfolded and bound at the hands and feet. The remains were transferred as part of a ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas, where Israel agreed to return the bodies of what it termed 360 “Gazan terrorists.”

Israel has not disclosed any information regarding the identities of these individuals or the circumstances surrounding their deaths. It remains unclear whether the 120 individuals returned this week died while in Israeli custody, during the conflict in Gaza, or as participants in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. CNN has sought comments from multiple Israeli government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office and health ministry, but has not received a response.

So far, only a handful of the bodies have been identified. Two were publicly named by family members as having taken part in the October 7 assault, during which thousands of Palestinians crossed the perimeter fence, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 others, predominantly civilians. Others among the unidentified may be ordinary Gazans who entered Israel but did not participate in the attacks.

The bodies were handed over by Israel to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which subsequently delivered them to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza. Forensic teams began examining the remains immediately upon arrival. An official from the Gaza Ministry of Health indicated that each body came with documentation showing they were previously held at Sde Teiman, a military base in the Negev desert known to have been used as a detention center, where reports of abuse have surfaced.

Following the October 7 attacks, Israeli first responders were overwhelmed by the number of bodies found across attack sites. Members of ZAKA, an Israeli volunteer search and rescue organization, reported that victims’ remains were stored at Shura Army Base, while the remains of attackers were kept at a different facility in the Negev desert.

Doctors at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital described the condition of the bodies returned this week, highlighting signs of abuse and torture. They noted that bodies were numerically labeled and exhibited signs of physical restraint, including binding and blindfolding, alongside gunshot wounds. The health ministry official indicated that some bodies appeared to have broken bones and showed signs of having been “crushed by heavy vehicles.”

Photographs of the bodies reveal disturbing details: zip ties, blindfolds, and visible gunshot wounds. Most of the remains appear to belong to young men, many dressed in civilian clothing. Some were found with dirt on them, while one body still had an IV cannula in its arm. Some remains appeared to have been exhumed after burial.

Dr. Lawrence Owens, an independent forensic pathologist, analyzed photographs of one body and concluded that the individual was likely bound and blindfolded prior to death, noting a missing fingertip. He observed that, while there were signs of track marks on the body, it was not severely damaged, suggesting that it may have been buried after being struck by a vehicle. Another expert corroborated that the binding and blindfolding likely occurred before death and that the track marks were likely inflicted afterward.

In response to the lack of information, the Ministry of Health has created a website to post images of the remains, aiming to help family members identify their loved ones. Many of the photographs are graphic, revealing wounds and details of partially decomposed bodies. The ministry reports that some remains have already been identified through this initiative.

Among those searching for information about their family members is Rasmiya Mohammed Khairi Qdeih from Khuza’a in southern Gaza. Speaking from the Nasser Medical Complex, she shared that six of her sons were killed during the war, one has been taken prisoner by Israel, and one remains missing since the October 7 attack. She expressed concern over her missing son, who she insists did not partake in the assault but entered Israel to ascertain the situation.

“I heard news that they had brought the bodies of prisoners, so I ran to see if he was among them,” Qdeih told CNN. “Whenever they bring the bodies of prisoners, I come here and search among them. Yesterday, I searched through more than 30 bodies.”

The Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons (PCMFD) criticized Israel’s lack of an official list of names for the deceased, calling it “suspicious” and indicative of possible “enforced disappearance and tampering with victims’ files.” They emphasized the need for comprehensive information about the returned bodies, including names and circumstances of death, to respect the families’ right to know.

As the situation remains fluid, it is unclear how many more Palestinian bodies Israel may be holding. An Israeli official previously indicated that the bodies of Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader believed to be involved in orchestrating the October 7 attack, would not be returned to Gaza. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the identities of the deceased adds to the growing tensions in the region.