Gaza hospital officials said Wednesday they have received the bodies of 15 Palestinians returned by Israel, raising the total number of Palestinian bodies returned since the ceasefire to 285.

The handover comes a day after Palestinian militants in Gaza returned the body of an Israeli soldier captured during the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war. Under the ceasefire that began on October 10, Hamas has returned the remains of 21 Israeli hostages, with all living hostages now released.

Gaza militants have been handing over one to three bodies every few days, with Israel urging faster returns. Each Israeli hostage returned has prompted Israel to release the remains of 15 Palestinians, though fewer than half have been identified. Forensic identification in Gaza is challenging due to a shortage of DNA testing kits, and the Health Ministry posts photos online to help families recognize their loved ones.

The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and left 251 taken hostage. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive that, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, has killed over 68,800 Palestinians, including civilians and combatants. Israel disputes these figures and has denied accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.