“Hamas Returns Bodies in Ceasefire, One Not Hostage”

The Israeli military confirmed that one of the bodies returned by Hamas under the ceasefire agreement did not belong to any of the hostages. In a bid to uphold the fragile ceasefire, Hamas handed over four bodies on Tuesday, following a similar handover on Monday that coincided with the release of 20 hostages. Identifying the bodies has been a process; three individuals have been named by the Hostages Family Forum, including Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi. These individuals were taken by Hamas during various incidents, sparking tensions that led to the conflict in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the necessity for Hamas to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, particularly regarding the return of the deceased hostages. Hamas, through spokesperson Hazem Kassem, affirmed their commitment to returning the bodies as outlined in the agreement, despite accusing Israel of breaching the terms through recent altercations. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, reiterated their adherence to the ceasefire terms and warned against any encroachment of deployment lines. While celebrations ensued over the release of living hostages and prisoners, concerns lingered over the retrieval of all deceased hostages’ remains. Challenges in recovering the bodies have been cited due to the extensive destruction in Gaza, with some bodies believed to be in areas controlled by Israeli forces.