Hamas returns bodies of two more hostages to Israel

The Israeli government announced on Sunday that Hamas has returned the remains of two hostages, as ongoing efforts to recover bodies buried under Gaza’s rubble threatened to strain the fragile ceasefire.

Officials said that the fate of remaining hostage bodies has emerged as a key obstacle to fully implementing the truce. Israel has reportedly tied the reopening of Gaza’s main entry point to the retrieval of all deceased captives.

Humanitarian organizations, meanwhile, have urged the reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt to accelerate the delivery of food, fuel, and medical aid to the besieged enclave.

Despite the ceasefire, Gaza rescue teams reported sporadic incidents of violence in several areas. Hamas handed over the remains of two hostages last night as per the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross had received the remains and subsequently transferred them to Israeli forces for identification.

Netanyahu reiterated that the conflict in Gaza would not end until Hamas is disarmed and the territory is demilitarised. “When that process is completed—peacefully, if possible, or otherwise—then the war will be over,” he said in an interview with the right-wing Channel 14.

Israel’s longest-serving premier also said he intends to run in next year’s elections and expressed confidence in his victory.

Hamas, however, has refused to disarm and has reportedly been attempting to reassert administrative control over Gaza since the pause in hostilities.