Israel returns 15 more Palestinian bodies to Gaza as first phase of ceasefire nears end

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 swap as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire reached last month, whose first phase is coming to an end.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it helped transfer the bodies to Gaza.

The remains of two hostages, one Israeli and a Thai national, remain in Gaza. Hamas said Wednesday it was determined to uphold its side of the agreement and return them both.

Meanwhile, Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian mediators met in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire, reached on Oct. 10,

The next phases will include deploying an armed International Stabilization Force, or ISF, and developing an international body to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction. The ISF will be tasked with keeping security and ensuring the disarmament of Hamas,