• Israel retrieved the remains of hostage Lior Rudaeff from Gaza.
• A total of 23 hostages’ remains have been returned under the US-brokered ceasefire.
• Five bodies, including four Israelis and one Thai, are still awaiting return.

On November 7, Israel received the remains of Lior Rudaeff, an Israeli-Argentinian volunteer ambulance driver, from the Red Cross. The handover marks the return of one of the six hostages whose remains were still held by Palestinian militants following the October ceasefire deal. The Israeli military confirmed the arrival of Rudaeff's body, stating it will undergo identification at a forensic facility in Tel Aviv, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

Since the ceasefire commenced on October 10, a total of 23 hostages' remains have been returned; however, the process has been criticized for its pace, particularly regarding the five remaining hostages yet to be accounted for. Hamas claims that the delay in returning the remains is due to many bodies being buried under rubble from two years of conflict, while Israel has expressed frustration, accusing Hamas of not adhering to the terms of the ceasefire and threatening to resume military operations if they do not comply, according to NPR and Channel News Asia.

The five hostages whose remains are still in Gaza include four individuals abducted during the October 7 attack—three Israelis and a Thai national—as well as the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in combat during the 2014 Gaza conflict. The families of those remaining hostages continue to await the return of their loved ones, enduring prolonged uncertainty and distress, which has been characterized as “agonizing” by advocacy groups representing them, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that every effort will be made to return the remaining deceased hostages, asserting that "we will spare no effort until we return all of the deceased hostages, every last one of them.” This ongoing situation underscores the complex dynamics of the ceasefire agreement and reveals the continuing impact on families and communities caught in the crisis, according to NPR and Channel News Asia.