Hostage point man said to demand action for return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili's remains; Muslim-majority countries worried Israel aims to transfer Gazans to Egypt with opening of Rafah crossing The post Israel told mediators that Gaza terror groups can reach body of last hostage — report appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The bodies of two deceased hostages are still thought to be in Gaza. Israeli authorities have been releasing Palestinian prisoners and the bodies of deceased Palestinians detainees in exchange for the return of hostage remains.

An international body tasked with governing the Gaza Strip under the next phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire is expected to be announced by the end of the year, an Arab official and a Western diplomat said Friday.

Once returned to Israel, the remains will be examined by forensics experts to determine whether they belong to either of the 2 last hostages in Gaza.

In all, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others have been returned to Israel since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began in early October.

Democratic politicians are struggling to strike a balance between U.S. support for Israel and voter outrage over civilian suffering in Gaza.

Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing in the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza.

Israel said it plans to open the Rafah crossing to let Palestinians leave from Gaza to Egypt, but it will not allow Palestinians to return.

LONDON (AP) — The Eurovision Song Contest, which aims to be an upbeat celebration of music and unity, is facing the biggest crisis in its seven-decade history after four countries walked out of the competition over Israel’s participation and others weighed whether to join the boycott.

Muslim-majority countries worried Israel aims to transfer Gazans to Egypt with opening of Rafah Crossing * ICC deputy prosecutor: ‘Conceivable’ to hold in-abstentia hearings against Netanyahu, Putin

The Gaza Health Ministry said that more than 350 Palestinians have been killed across the territory since a ceasefire on Oct. 11 stopped the Israel-Hamas war. Israel’s military did not immediately comment on either deaths, but has said that killings have often been in response to firing at their forces by militants.