Bodies of Two Israeli Captives Handed Over by Hamas Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire:

A fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Gaza Strip’s landscape of destruction is facing fresh strain following the hand-over of two bodies of Israeli captives — a move that underscores the deep mistrust and complex logistics behind the deal. According to the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, two bodies, said by Hamas to belong to deceased Israeli captives, have been received by Israeli forces via the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza and will now be transported into Israel for official identification. The hand-over comes under the terms of a US-brokered framework, by which Hamas committed to returning the remains of all 28 Israeli captives — living and deceased — in exchange for Israel returning Palestinian bodies and releasing Palestinian political prisoners. Under the deal, Hamas already released 20 living captives, and Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Despite the truce taking effect on 10 October, Israeli attacks have continued across Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians — among them 46 children and 20 women between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Hamas says the delay in handing over the remaining bodies is due to “logistical and operational challenges” — particularly in areas heavily damaged by Israeli strikes and buried under mounds of rubble. Its spokesman in central Gaza said the group is still pressing Israel to allow heavy-bulldozers and equipment to assist in body-recovery efforts. Israeli officials, meanwhile, accuse Hamas of deliberate procrastination. The retrieval of bodies has become one of the most contentious issues in the ceasefire’s implementation. Each side views it not merely as a humanitarian act but one loaded with military and political symbolism. Israeli officials say the suspended hand-over of the remaining bodies justifies their stricter controls on aid and movement. Hamas says the devastation prevented timely recovery and insists they are hampered by lack of equipment and blocked access. The humanitarian dimension of the deal is also unraveling. From the same truce framework, the entry of large-scale aid into Gaza was promised; over 24,000 tonnes of UN-aid have reportedly reached the enclave since the ceasefire began, and food‐delivery scaling has been emphasised by the World Food Programme. However, bottlenecks remain due to NGO‐registration issues, Israeli control of key border crossings, and the still-massive displacement of Gaza’s civilians, many of whom remain uprooted from their homes. For now, while the initial phase of the ceasefire is technically in effect and some hostages and bodies have been exchanged, the deal’s deeper elements — full Israeli withdrawal from major Gaza urban centres, disarmament of Hamas, complete release of captives and a lasting peace arrangement — continue to hang in the balance. Until the body-recovery issue is resolved and aid flows are fully restored, this ceasefire remains precarious.