Hamas has announced the handover of two additional Israeli hostage bodies, adhering to the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire. However, the group has also stated that retrieving the remaining deceased hostages from the destroyed areas of Gaza will necessitate specialized equipment and more time. Hamas’s armed wing emphasized its commitment to the deal, asserting it has returned all bodies it could access.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, indicating that Israeli forces may resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to comply with the agreement. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister confirmed the receipt of coffins containing the bodies of hostages through the Red Cross, stating that official identification is pending.
The IDF has requested the public to await official confirmation before drawing conclusions, noting that identification results will be communicated to the families of the deceased first. If the two bodies returned on Wednesday night are indeed identified as hostages, it would mean 19 individuals remain unaccounted for. Hamas is obligated to return all 28 deceased hostages as part of the initial phase of the Gaza peace plan.
Hamas’s armed wing, in its statement, highlighted that recovering the remaining bodies is a complex task requiring significant effort and specialized equipment, and that they are working diligently to resolve this matter. Earlier, Israel had reiterated its firm stance on hostage recovery, stating that “the mission is not complete.” Israel’s defense minister has reportedly directed the IDF to prepare a comprehensive plan to counter Hamas in Gaza should the conflict resume.
Following meetings with senior military officials, Israel Katz reportedly stated that the army must be prepared to take action if Hamas reneces on the peace plan. The latest repatriations follow an earlier incident where Israel confirmed that one of four bodies returned by Hamas on Tuesday was not among the missing hostages. The other three deceased were identified as Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, according to the Hostages Families Forum.
Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has urged Israel to immediately open all crossings into Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid, in line with the ceasefire agreement. He also called on Hamas to make serious efforts to return all deceased hostages. Fletcher emphasized Israel’s commitment to allowing a substantial increase in humanitarian aid, stressing its critical importance for civilian lives.
The US-brokered ceasefire plan, accepted by both Israel and Hamas, initially stipulated the handover of all 48 hostages by Monday noon, with Hamas returning 20 living hostages on Monday. However, the agreement implicitly acknowledges the possibility that Hamas and other Palestinian factions might not have been able to locate all hostage remains by the initial deadline.
Under the terms, Israel agreed to exchange the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli hostage. The Hamas-run health ministry confirmed on Wednesday that Israel had returned the bodies of an additional 45 Palestinians, bringing the total number of bodies released by Israel to 90. Concerns are reportedly growing in Gaza regarding the stability of the ceasefire, with reports of food prices surging as residents stockpile supplies amid fears of renewed conflict.
Related News
- Dozens in court over alleged support of Palestine Action
- UN humanitarian chief urges Israel to open more crossings into Gaza
- ‘Worse than starting from scratch’: how big is the task of rebuilding Gaza?
More from the BBC
- US campus activists relieved – and anxious – after Gaza ceasefire deal
- Gaza experts work to identify bodies of 90 Palestinians returned by Israel
- ‘Time to begin healing together’: Israeli hostage couple reunited after 738 days
- Trump demands Hamas disarm as group moves to assert control with public execution
- Hostage families confirm identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas