An independent United Nations inquiry has concluded for the first time that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and that the country’s top leaders have incited genocide, in what it described as the “most authoritative UN finding to date.

The threat from Israel Katz, the defence minister, came after Hamas handed over the remains of two further bodies late on Wednesday, bringing the total of known deceased hostages returned by Hamas to nine – along with a 10th body that Israel said was not that of a former hostage.

Unresolved issues — mainly over the exchange of hostage and prisoner remains — threaten to destabilize the fragile agreement.

After Hamas handed over two dead Israeli hostages overnight, Israel returns 30 dead Palestinians - a ratio agreed in the first phase of the peace deal.

The head of an independent United Nations commission that concludes Israel has committed genocide in Gaza argues that countries supplying weapons to Israel, like the United States, are also complicit.

Israel has begun a ground assault to seize what it calls a Hamas stronghold inside Gaza City. A United Nations commission said Israel is committing genocide.

France and Britain, in coordination with the United States, are working to finalise a U.N. Security Council resolution in the coming days that would lay the foundation for a future international force in Gaza,

Israel received the remains of two more hostages Wednesday, hours after the Israeli military said that one of the bodies previously turned over was not that of a hostage. The remains were transferred by the Red Cross from Hamas.

Three deceased hostages returned to Israel yesterday have been named as the slow release of remains prompts authorities to reduce or delay aid to Gaza. Follow for live updates.