Hamas has delivered what it claims to be the bodies of two deceased Israeli hostages following a series of Israeli strikes in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians, including women and children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the bodies were received by Israeli forces through the Red Cross in Gaza and will be taken to Israel for identification.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of around 250 Palestinians convicted or suspected of security offenses by Israel, as well as 1,700 adults and 22 minors detained during the conflict without charges. Hamas also agreed to surrender the remains of all 28 deceased hostages in return for 360 militants killed by Israeli forces during the conflict. So far, Hamas has handed over 15 bodies.
Israel has criticized Hamas for delays in delivering the remaining bodies, while Hamas maintains that the process of locating and retrieving all the remains will take time. Families of some hostages are anxious to provide proper burials for their loved ones, fearing their remains may be lost under Gaza’s ruins, where thousands of missing Palestinians are believed to be.
The recovery and handover of bodies have posed challenges to U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to permanently resolve the Gaza conflict. Key obstacles ahead include the governance of Gaza and Hamas’s disarmament demand, with both sides blaming each other for ceasefire violations.
Israeli witnesses reported 10 airstrikes east of Khan Younis and tank shelling east of Gaza City on Thursday, with no reported casualties. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted “terrorist infrastructure threatening troops” in Gaza areas where Israeli forces are still present. Retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza followed an attack on Israeli troops that resulted in one soldier’s death.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 104 people, including 46 children and 20 women, were killed in the airstrikes, with Israel claiming to have targeted numerous militants. Gaza residents express fears of a renewed conflict, with many still displaced and uncertain about their future.