Hamas has announced the transfer of the bodies of two additional Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States. The group indicated it is committed to the terms of the deal but requires more time and specialized equipment to recover additional bodies from the rubble in Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office stated that the bodies were received through the Red Cross and are pending official identification. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged caution, asking the public to await identification results before informing the families. Should the newly returned bodies be confirmed as hostages, it would leave 19 hostages still unaccounted for. Hamas is expected to return all 28 deceased hostages, according to the first phase of the peace plan.
Hamas’s armed wing reiterated the challenges involved in retrieving the remaining bodies but asserted they are making substantial efforts to resolve the situation. Israeli officials expressed that there would be no compromise on the return of hostages, emphasizing the mission remains incomplete. Israel’s defense minister has instructed the IDF to develop a plan to defeat Hamas should hostilities resume.
In tandem with these developments, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called for Israel to open all crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid, as outlined in the ceasefire terms. He emphasized that Hamas must strive to return the remaining deceased hostages and insisted on the necessity for humanitarian aid to flow unabated.
The initial agreement stipulated that all 48 hostages would be returned by a certain deadline. While all 20 living hostages were returned earlier, it appears that Hamas and other factions may require more time to locate all remains. The ceasefire accord also includes a reciprocal arrangement, where Israel agreed to return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each deceased Israeli hostage.
Reports from Gaza indicate rising concerns regarding the ceasefire’s sustainability, with residents noting increased food prices as traders hoard supplies, anticipating a potential resumption of conflict.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w9py9940go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss