Israel Pressures Hamas Over Delay in Returning Hostage Remains
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue pressuring Hamas to return the bodies of hostages still inside Gaza, declaring that Israel will not relent in its fight against terrorism. His comments came during a memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Netanyahu’s remarks followed the handover of two more bodies by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday night. The remains were later identified as Inbar Hayman and Sgt Maj Muhammad al-Atarash, bringing the total number of recovered bodies this week to nine out of 28 hostages confirmed dead.
The Israeli leader said the government remains “determined to secure the return of every hostage, living or deceased”, stressing that the country would respond firmly to any renewed acts of aggression.
Fury in Israel Over Hamas Delay Despite Ceasefire Agreement
Public anger in Israel has grown after Hamas failed to return all 28 bodies as required under last week’s Gaza ceasefire deal. While Washington has downplayed claims that the delay amounts to a violation, Israeli officials have threatened to curb humanitarian aid entering Gaza in response.
Hamas said its fighters had recovered nine bodies so far and were still searching for the remaining 19, claiming the process requires specialized equipment and access to heavily damaged areas.
The group’s military wing said, “We continue efforts to locate the rest of the bodies, but it is a complex mission given the extensive destruction.”
Identification and Burial of Fallen Israeli Soldiers
The Israeli military confirmed that the bodies of Hayman and al-Atarash were handed over under the supervision of the ICRC. Their return followed a carefully coordinated exchange inside Gaza City, overseen by masked Hamas gunmen.
On Thursday, Sgt Maj al-Atarash, a Bedouin soldier killed in the October 7 attack, was laid to rest in his hometown of Sawa, southern Israel.
Since Monday, Hamas has released 20 living hostages as part of the ceasefire deal, in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. The Israeli government insists that no further steps in the truce agreement will proceed until all hostages’ bodies are returned.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a key advocacy group, called on Netanyahu’s government to “immediately suspend the ceasefire implementation” until the 19 remaining bodies are located.
US Downplays Breach Claims as Search Continues
Two senior advisers to US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington does not view Hamas’s delay as a breach of the truce. They said efforts were ongoing to transition to the next stage of the ceasefire agreement, adding that Hamas had cooperated with mediators and shared credible information about the hostages’ locations.
A leaked draft of the Israel-Hamas agreement, published by Israeli media, suggests that immediate retrieval of all remains was not guaranteed, given the severe devastation in Gaza.
US officials added that financial rewards might be offered to civilians providing information on the location of the remaining bodies.
Gaza Toll Rises as Ceasefire Faces New Strains
Israel’s military launched a full-scale operation in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks, when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 others.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 67,967 people have since been killed by Israeli strikes — figures considered credible by the United Nations.
Hamas has complained that more than 20 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began, accusing Israel of violating the truce.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that their troops only open fire when threatened, and continue to control more than half of Gaza’s territory.
Rafah Crossing to Reopen After Preparations Complete
As part of the ceasefire framework, plans are underway to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has been closed since Israeli forces seized the Gaza side in May 2024.
However, an official from Cogat, the Israeli military body overseeing Gaza operations, said the crossing will initially reopen for people only, after coordination with Egypt is finalized.
The official clarified that humanitarian aid will not pass through Rafah. Instead, supplies will continue entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing and other monitored routes after Israeli security inspections.
Netanyahu Reaffirms Israel’s Commitment to Security
Concluding his address, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s unwavering stance against terrorism.
“Our fight against terror will continue with full force,” he said. “We will not allow evil to rise again, and we will exact a full price from those who harm us.”
The prime minister reiterated that Israel remains open to diplomacy but will respond with strength if attacked again. His statement signals that Jerusalem’s patience is wearing thin, as it seeks to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire and the return of every hostage’s remains.
