Hostage Remains Returned as Israel Faces Prison Abuse Scandal

Israel on Tuesday received what Hamas said were the remains of another deceased hostage held in Gaza, continuing a series of transfers under the US-brokered ceasefire deal that began last month. The coffin was transferred through the Red Cross and taken to Israel’s national forensics lab for identification, leaving seven other deceased hostages still in Gaza.

This latest return followed the handover of three bodies on Sunday, including that of a man killed during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Earlier attempts to return remains had tested the ceasefire’s stability. On October 28, Hamas claimed to have returned three bodies, but Israel could not confirm their identities. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “immediate, powerful strikes” in Gaza, which killed at least 104 Palestinians, including many children.

Despite tensions, the ceasefire has mostly held. In a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump described the agreement as “very solid,” adding that Hamas “could be taken out immediately if they don’t behave.”

At the same time, Israel is also facing a growing scandal. The army’s top legal officer was arrested over a leaked video showing alleged abuse, including sexual assault, of Palestinian detainees at the Sde Teiman military prison.

In May 2024, CNN spoke with whistleblowers who detailed harsh treatment at the prison. Israeli officials announced plans to phase out the facility in June, and when the footage aired on Israel’s Channel 12 in August, it sparked outrage. 

The arrest of Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi stems from suspicions that she may have been involved in the unauthorized release of that video or failed to prevent its circulation despite her role as the military’s top legal officer responsible for upholding the rule of law within the military.