Israel announced on Saturday that Hamas handed over two coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages from Gaza, a week into a fragile ceasefire aimed at ending two years of conflict. The exchange, which brings the total to 12 recovered bodies, has intensified political and humanitarian tensions amid ongoing restrictions and mutual accusations of violations.
Ceasefire Under Strain as Hostage Remains Exchanged
The Israeli government said the two coffins were received late Saturday and transported to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification. No names were immediately released, but officials confirmed the remains were those of Israeli citizens held by Hamas since the start of the war.
The handover marks another step in the ongoing ceasefire process, brokered through international mediation to bring an end to a devastating conflict that began in October 2023. So far, Hamas has returned the remains of 12 of the 28 Israeli hostages confirmed dead in Gaza, though Israeli officials insist the militant group must expedite the process.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tied the reopening of the Rafah border crossing to the return of all bodies, announcing that it would remain closed “until further notice.” The move drew criticism from Hamas, which called it a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
Rafah Crossing Remains Closed Amid Dispute
The Rafah crossing — Gaza’s primary link to Egypt and the outside world — has been closed since Israel seized control of the Gaza side in May 2024. A full reopening would enable medical evacuations and limited civilian travel, including for Palestinians seeking treatment in Egypt.
Earlier on Saturday, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo announced that Rafah would reopen Monday for returning Gazans. Netanyahu’s statement, however, reversed that expectation, deepening confusion among families and humanitarian agencies.
Hamas said the devastated conditions in parts of Gaza and ongoing Israeli military control have slowed efforts to locate and return the remaining bodies. The group cited unexploded ordnance and collapsed infrastructure as major obstacles to retrieval operations.
Families on Both Sides Await Closure
As Israel recovers hostages’ remains, it has also returned bodies of Palestinians killed during the war. On Saturday, Israel repatriated 15 bodies to Gaza, bringing the total to 135 since the ceasefire began. Gaza’s Health Ministry has posted photos of unidentified corpses online in hopes families will come forward.
At Nasser Hospital, families waited anxiously for news. “Just like they took their captives, we want our captives,” said Iman Sakani, whose son disappeared early in the conflict. “Bring all our children back.”
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with thousands still missing under rubble. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration, does not differentiate between civilians and fighters, but its figures are generally regarded as credible by the United Nations and independent experts. Israel disputes the numbers but has not provided its own verified count.
Hamas-led fighters killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 during their October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel — the incident that ignited the two-year war.
Identification and Renewed Pressure from the United States
Israel confirmed that one of the hostages whose remains were handed over Friday was 76-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the initial Hamas assault. His body was discovered in the southern city of Khan Younis after bulldozers cleared debris from combat zones.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped broker the current ceasefire, warned that Washington would support Israel in resuming military operations if Hamas fails to deliver all remaining remains.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement Saturday citing “credible intelligence” of a potential Hamas-planned attack against civilians in Gaza. “Such an attack would be a grave violation of the ceasefire and would undermine progress achieved through mediation,” the statement said, adding that the U.S. and ceasefire guarantors would “take measures to protect civilians and preserve the agreement.”
Public Pressure in Israel for Full Recovery of Hostages
In Israel, public frustration continues to grow among families of abducted citizens. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an organization advocating for their return, said it will maintain weekly demonstrations in Tel Aviv until all remains and surviving hostages are accounted for.
“We don’t want to return to war, but this ordeal must end,” said Ifat Calderon, aunt of freed hostage Ofer Calderon. “Every family deserves closure.”
Humanitarian Access and Aid Shortages Persist
Humanitarian agencies warn that Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains dire despite the truce. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described Gaza City as a “wasteland,” adding that “vast parts of the territory are uninhabitable.”
According to U.N. figures released Friday, only 339 trucks of food and supplies have been distributed since the ceasefire took effect, far below the 600-truck daily target agreed under the terms. COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid, reported higher figures — nearly 950 trucks on Thursday and 716 on Wednesday — though these include commercial deliveries.
Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid, while the U.N. and other international agencies reject those claims, maintaining that Israeli inspection procedures and movement restrictions are the primary bottlenecks.
Claims of Ceasefire Violations and Civilian Casualties
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by continuing attacks, alleging that 38 Palestinians had been killed since the truce began. Gaza’s Civil Defense said nine people, including women and children, died on Friday when their vehicle was struck by Israeli fire in Gaza City.
According to Civil Defense officials, the car entered an Israeli-controlled area near the eastern perimeter of the city. The Israeli military said it identified a “suspicious vehicle” approaching its troops and fired warning shots before opening fire when it failed to stop, calling the incident “a response to an imminent threat.”
Despite mounting tensions, mediators continue efforts to sustain the ceasefire and complete the exchange of remains. Both sides face growing domestic pressure: Hamas to demonstrate adherence to the truce, and Israel to deliver closure to families still awaiting their loved ones.
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Source: AP News – Israel says Hamas hands over ‘2 coffins of deceased hostages’ from Gaza
