KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel handed over the bodies of 15 Palestinians on Wednesday, a day after Hamas returned the remains of an Israeli hostage. This is the latest exchange as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire reached last month, whose first phase is coming to an end.

The remains of two hostages, one Israeli and a Thai national who were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that ignited the war, are still to be returned.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Wednesday that the militant group was committed to handing over the remains of the two hostages. Israel has accused the militants of stalling after the last living hostages were released on Oct. 13, but Hamas says recovering the bodies has proven difficult due to widespread destruction in the Palestinian territ

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