Israel hands over remains of 45 Palestinians to Gaza: health authorities

GAZA -- Israel handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Gaza's health authorities said on Wednesday.

The transfer brings to 90 the total number of bodies returned this week, after another 45 were handed over on Tuesday, the authorities said in a statement.

Medical teams are examining and documenting the remains in line with standard procedures before returning them to families, the statement added.

The handover comes days after a ceasefire took effect on Friday following intensive Egyptian-mediated talks that also covered a partial Israeli withdrawal, a prisoner exchange, and the reopening of border crossings to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.