• More than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.
• Recent exchanges of bodies occurred as part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S.
• Health officials indicate the death toll is increasing as bodies are recovered from rubble.
• Israeli settlers have escalated violence against Palestinians during the olive harvest season.

Gaza health officials reported that the death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 69,000, reflecting the severe humanitarian crisis following the violence that erupted after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. The rise in fatalities is attributed to the ongoing recovery of bodies from rubble since a tenuous ceasefire commenced on October 10, alongside the identification of previously unidentified remains, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

As part of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Israel returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Saturday, one day after militants returned the body of an Israeli hostage, identified as Lior Rudaeff. This exchange underscores the complexities of the ceasefire agreement, which seeks to facilitate the return of remains for each Israeli hostage as they are released. Since the truce, a total of 300 Palestinian bodies have been turned over, with 89 identified, as reported by India Times and India Times.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has disclosed that the total number of people killed has risen to 69,169, with additional casualties confirmed from Israeli military strikes targeting militants since the ceasefire began. As recovery efforts continue, the ministry emphasizes that many more remain unaccounted for amidst the devastation, according to South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

In addition to the body exchanges, violence has escalated in the region as Israeli settlers have conducted attacks on Palestinian farmers, journalists, and activists during the current olive harvest season. Reports indicate that at least 11 individuals, including paramedics and international activists, have sustained injuries from settler violence, which the UN has recorded as reaching unprecedented levels in October. This situation has drawn criticism due to the rarity of arrests or prosecutions for such acts, as highlighted by Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.