Hamas has reported the handover of two additional Israeli hostage bodies, aligning with the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire. However, the group indicated that the recovery of other deceased hostages requires specialized equipment and more time, citing the challenging conditions amidst Gaza’s ruins.
In a statement, Hamas’s armed wing affirmed its commitment to the agreement, asserting that it has already returned all reachable hostage bodies. The situation remains tense, with international stakeholders urging progress and humanitarian aid access.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Israeli forces may resume operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to adhere to the agreement. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed the receipt of coffins containing hostage bodies via the Red Cross, pending official identification. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) requested public sensitivity and patience for the formal identification process, which will prioritize notifying the families of the deceased.
If the bodies handed over are confirmed as hostages, it would bring the number of unaccounted-for hostages in Gaza to 19. Hamas is obligated under the initial phase of the Gaza peace plan to return all 28 deceased hostages. The group’s statement highlighted the need for significant effort and specialized equipment to locate and retrieve the remaining bodies, expressing a strong commitment to resolving this aspect of the deal.
Israel has maintained a firm stance, stating that its mission is not complete and it will “not compromise” on hostage returns. The Israeli defense minister has directed the IDF to develop a comprehensive strategy to dismantle Hamas in Gaza, preparing for potential renewed conflict should the peace plan falter.
This development follows Israel’s prior statement that one of the four bodies returned by Hamas on Tuesday was not a missing hostage. The other three were identified as Tamir Nimrodi, 20; Eitan Levy, 53; and Uriel Baruch, 35, according to the Hostages Families Forum.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has strongly urged Israel to open all Gaza crossings to allow for a substantial influx of humanitarian aid, as stipulated in the ceasefire plan. He called on Hamas to diligently work towards returning all deceased hostages and on Israel to facilitate the necessary aid, emphasizing that withholding aid from civilians is not a viable bargaining tactic.
The US-brokered ceasefire agreement, accepted by both Israel and Hamas, had initially set a deadline for the handover of all 48 hostages by Monday. While Hamas returned all 20 living hostages, the agreement acknowledges the possibility that Hamas and other Palestinian factions might not have been able to locate all deceased hostages by the deadline. Under the terms, Israel is also set to return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli hostage recovered.
As of Wednesday, Israel has returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians, bringing the total number of bodies released by Israel to 90, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Amidst these developments, residents in Gaza express growing anxiety about the ceasefire’s stability, with reports of significant price hikes for essential food items due to hoarding by traders anticipating a resumption of conflict.