It was a confusing week in the Netherlands concerning MH17.
First, now the number of identified has risen to 289. There are still remains in the Netherlands to be identified, but identification is very difficult because the DNA has degraded either by high temperatures or by decay.
In totaal 289 slachtoffers rampvlucht MH17 geïdentificeerd | Nieuwsbericht | Rijksoverheid.nl
Today, 31 october, a dutch team went together with the OVSE and recovered remains of victims at locations of the crash site that not have been searched. So when the opportunity arises, something happens.
Last week a journalist visited the crash site to make pictures of the site after 100 days. At the main impac site, he mentioned a stench of human remains, actually seeing a few remains himself. He also mentioned the continuation of fighting around the crash site and that some Ukraine forces had entered some of the areas.
This week there was a lot of confusion, because of the interview of Pavlo Klimkin, the foreign minister of Ukraine. He stated that shortly after MH17 was shot down Ukraine didn't mind if the dutch government negotiated directly with the rebels for access to the crash site. The dutch government allways stated that direct negotiations with the rebels was against the will of the Ukraine government, and that all negotiations would go through the OVSE. Dutch press jumped on the story and blamed dutch government to act too cautiously after the disaster. However, today Ukraine official statement is that from the beginning, Ukraine requested all countries involved (malaysia, Netherlands, Australia) to use the OVSE for contacting the rebels.
'Nederland was te voorzichtig rond rampplek MH17' | RTL Nieuws
Kiev tegen direct contact met rebellen om MH17 | RTL Nieuws
So it looks like that as long as the crash site is in Rebel hands and there is nothing more than this cease-fire, there will be no real investigation on location. Rebel leaders may state that the investigators are welcome, but they don't state what price needs to be paid to be truely welcome. Reduction of sanctions, international acception of DNR, it might all be on the list.
@NotPegasus and others:
That 500 pieces of shrapnel were found in lugage and bodies, doesn't mean these are 500 pieces of the missile, even most of the 50 pieces of metal might not be from a missile. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the accident all kinds of particles get embedded into the lugage and human remains. Check the coroners report on TWA 800. So most particles are either from the plane or stuff on board, propelled to supertornado speed by the 800 km/hour wind entering the cabin.