Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 69,169

At least 241 Palestinians have been killed and 614 injured by Israeli attacks since Oct. 11, Gaza's health authorities said Saturday, bringing the overall death toll from Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 69,169, with 170,685 others injured.

The authorities also reported the same day that Israel handed over the remains of 15 Palestinians to the Gaza Strip through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday, a day after Palestinian militants returned the remains of an Israeli hostage under the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

The handover followed Israel's confirmation that the remains transferred by Hamas the previous night belonged to a reserve soldier killed during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The latest exchange brings the total number of Palestinian bodies returned to 300, with 89 bodies identified currently.

According to the authorities, Gaza hospitals have reported 10 deaths in the past 72 hours.

The ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on Oct. 10, has sharply reduced Israeli attacks but not halted them entirely.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery increased by 87 cents, or 1.42 percent, to settle at 62.02 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery gained 1.05 dollars, or 1.6 percent, to settle at 66.52 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.