Hey fam 🌐, in the latest Gaza ceasefire update, Hamas just delivered the remains of another Israeli hostage to the Red Cross, escorted by IDF troops across the border. This marks the 10th body returned this week under the first phase of the peace plan.
Per a statement from Israel’s Defense Forces, the coffin is now en route to Tel Aviv’s National Institute for Forensic Medicine for ID procedures. The military urged everyone to stay sensitive and wait for the official word, which will go out to the families first.
Here’s the deal:
- Hamas has committed to handing back 28 bodies in total at this phase.
- On Monday, they released 20 live hostages held for two years.
- In exchange, Israel freed about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and paused its Gaza ops started after Oct 7, 2023.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed the goal of bringing back every hostage, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned fighting could resume if the deal stalls. On the other side, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad called those warnings “unacceptable pressure tactics,” noting the challenge of locating bodies under Gaza’s altered landscape. Still, he vows Hamas will "adhere to the agreement."
Since the ceasefire, Gaza’s civil defense agency—a rescue force under Hamas authority—has recovered over 280 bodies from the rubble. As both sides stick to the terms, families on all sides are holding onto hope for closure and peace 🙏.
Reference(s):
Hamas hands over body of one more Israeli hostage, vows to return rest
cgtn.com
