KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — More than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war so far, Gaza health officials said Saturday, as both sides completed the latest exchange of bodies under the terms of the tenuous ceasefire.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas fighters holed up in the Israeli-held Rafah area of Gaza would surrender their arms in exchange for passage to other areas of the enclave under a proposal to resolve an issue seen as a risk to the month-old truce,

Israel on Saturday returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, a day after Hamas militants returned the remains of one hostage to Israel.View on euronews

Under the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire, reached on Oct. 10, Hamas is expected to return all of the remains of Israeli hostages as soon as possible.

The presence of the militants, who have killed three Israeli troops, is threatening to unravel the fragile cease-fire.

Hundreds of mourners filled a military cemetery in Israel for the funeral of a soldier whose body was recently returned as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Among the 8 deceased Israeli hostages whose remains are yet to be returned from Gaza is soldier and U.S. citizen Itay Chen.

USAID Office of the Inspector General is pursuing allegations that U.S. taxpayer dollars sent to the Gaza Strip were diverted to Hamas terrorists in the enclave.