The remains received by "Israel" from Gaza belong to the Thai captive Sudthisak Rinthalak, Reuters reported, citing the office of Israeli PM Netanyahu. The body was handed over to the Israeli military via the Red Cross and will undergo forensic identification, according to the statement.

Netanyahu's office noted that the remains of the last Israeli captive, police officer Ran Gvili, are still in Gaza. The transfer of Rinthalak's body marks one of the final steps in the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 11.

Earlier, the al-Qassam Brigades announced, in coordination with al-Quds Brigades that they would hand over the body of an Israeli captive as part of the al-Aqsa Flood deal. This announcement came just hours before the remains were officially transferred.

Al-Quds Brigades stated that they found the body during excavation operations in northern Gaza, conducted in cooperation with the Red Cross. However, the Resistance factions did not specify whether the body belonged to Gvili or Rinthalak at the time of the handover.

Conditional opening of the Rafah crossing

The Israeli occupation has tied the full reopening of the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to Egypt, to the return of all captives, living and deceased, which is in violation of the ceasefire agreement. The first phase of Trump’s Gaza peace deal clearly states that the Rafah crossing is to be reopened in both directions.

According to the Israeli government’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the crossing is expected to reopen in the coming days under the supervision of a European Union mission. This decision was reportedly made in full coordination with mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

Ongoing Israeli violations

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks on Gaza have continued unabated. On Wednesday evening, five Palestinians were martyred in Khan Younis, including two children, after an Israeli airstrike targeted a displaced persons' encampment in al-Mawasi.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, a total of 360 Palestinians have been martyred since the ceasefire was announced, and another 922 were injured. The overall death toll since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, has reached 70,117 martyrs, with at least 170,999 injured.