'Israel' returns 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza: Gaza health ministry

'Israel' returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza on Monday, bringing the total number handed over under the ceasefire deal to 270, the health ministry in Gaza said.

Under a ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, 'Israel' was to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased 'Israeli' returned.

Following forensic identification, 'Israel' confirmed Monday that remains handed over by Hamas the day before belonged to three captives seized by Palestinian fighters during the October 7, 2023 attack.

The remains were those of American-'Israeli' Captain Omer Neutra, 21 years old at the time of his abduction, Corporal Oz Daniel, 19, and Colonel Assaf Hamami, 40, the highest-ranking officer killed by Hamas.

Hamas's armed wing said it had found the remains earlier on Sunday "along the route of one of the tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip".

Hamas had been holding 48 captives in Gaza when the truce came into effect on October 10, including 20 who were alive.

Since the start of the truce, Hamas has released the 20 surviving captives and begun handing over the remains of 28 deceased captives.

It has so far returned 20, including 18 'Israelis', one Thai national, and one Nepali.

'Israel' has accused Hamas of dragging its feet in returning the bodies, while the Palestinian group says the process is slow because many remains are buried beneath Gaza's rubble.

It has repeatedly called on mediators and the Red Cross to provide it with the necessary equipment and personnel to recover the bodies.