Israel has returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, a day after militants returned the remains of a hostage to Israel under the terms of the tenuous ceasefire agreement in the two-year war.

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, US-brokered truce. As part of the deal, Israel has returned the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage.

The Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said the 15 bodies were brought by the Red Cross.

The return came after Israel confirmed the remains of a hostage body was identified as that of Lior Rudaeff, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Rudaeff was born in Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, a farming community in southern Isr

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