Hamas Hands Over Three More Hostage Bodies as Ceasefire Tensions Continue

Post by : Saif Nasser

Hamas handed over the bodies of three more hostages to Israel on Sunday, as both sides blamed each other for breaking the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. The handover took place through the Red Cross, bringing a small sign of progress in an uneasy truce that has stopped most fighting after two years of war.

Israeli officials confirmed that the bodies were received by their forces in Gaza and were being sent to Israel for identification. The three are believed to be among the 11 hostages whose remains Israel has been trying to recover as part of the ceasefire deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas was taking too long to return the bodies, while Hamas argued that it was working under very difficult conditions and moving as quickly as possible.

The disagreement over the handover has added tension to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10. Despite the truce, scattered violence continues in Gaza. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike killed a man in the Shejaia area of Gaza City, near a vegetable market. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas fighter who posed a threat to its troops. Doctors at Al-Ahli Hospital confirmed one man was killed in the attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu later said that Israeli forces were still facing Hamas fighters in some areas of Gaza and would continue to eliminate them.

The ceasefire has brought some calm to Gaza after months of heavy fighting. Many Palestinians have returned to the ruins of their homes, and more aid has been allowed in. Israel has also withdrawn some of its soldiers from parts of the territory. Under the truce, Hamas agreed to release 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The agreement also includes the exchange of bodies. Hamas is expected to return 28 bodies of Israeli hostages, while Israel will return 360 bodies of Palestinian militants killed in the war. Before Sunday’s exchange, Hamas had already handed over 17 bodies, and the latest handover brings the total to 20.

However, peace remains fragile. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Hamas released a list of alleged Israeli attacks, while Israeli officials said Hamas had continued to launch small assaults on its troops. Hamas spokesperson Ismail Al-Thawabta denied this, saying the group was respecting the truce. Palestinian health officials say that since the ceasefire began, at least 236 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, including many civilians. Nearly half of those deaths happened in one day last week after Israel carried out large air attacks following an ambush on its soldiers. Israel says three of its troops have been killed since the ceasefire and that it has continued to target militants.

The ceasefire was arranged with the help of the United States. Around 200 U.S. troops are now based in southern Israel to monitor the truce and help plan a future international peacekeeping force that could stabilize Gaza. Over the weekend, U.S. General Dan Caine met with Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, to discuss the situation. Netanyahu said that all Israeli actions in Gaza are reported to Washington. Hamas, however, has accused the United States of not doing enough to stop Israeli strikes that it says break the ceasefire agreement.

So far, progress toward lasting peace has been slow. Many hard issues still remain, including how to disarm Hamas and when Israeli forces will completely withdraw from Gaza. For now, both sides remain suspicious of each other, and small clashes continue to threaten the fragile peace. Families on both sides are still waiting for news — some hoping for the return of loved ones, others praying that the fighting does not begin again.