Hamas Hands Over Remains of Another Israeli Captive as Aid Crisis Deepens in Gaza:

Hamas has handed over the remains of another Israeli captive in Gaza, amid growing international calls for Israel to allow humanitarian aid and heavy machinery into the war-torn enclave. The move comes as part of a ceasefire deal mediated by the United States, aimed at securing the return of deceased hostages and easing the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said on Friday that its fighters had recovered the body earlier in the day and transferred it to the Red Cross at 11:00pm local time. While the group did not disclose the exact location where the remains were found, it identified the deceased as an “occupation prisoner” — a term it uses for Israeli captives. Israel's Prime Minister’s Office later confirmed the receipt of the coffin and said it would be taken to the National Center for Forensic Medicine for official identification. Only after that process will the family be formally informed. The Israeli military called for public sensitivity during this time and reminded the public that Hamas must honor the ceasefire deal by returning the remaining bodies. According to Hamas, many of the deceased captives remain trapped under the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli airstrikes. The group says it has handed over all the remains it has been able to recover so far but needs urgent access to heavy machinery and international assistance to locate the others. “There are still 18 bodies inside Gaza,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hamda Salhut from Amman. “Hamas says they need equipment and help on the ground to retrieve them.” Despite the ceasefire agreement, Hamas and various international actors have accused Israel of blocking aid and recovery efforts. Much of Gaza’s heavy machinery has been destroyed during the conflict, and attempts by foreign nations to assist have been met with resistance. For instance, Turkiye reportedly offered to send 81 forensic experts and specialized equipment to help recover bodies, but Israel has not granted them access, according to Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh. The Rafah crossing with Egypt also remains largely closed, delaying the entry of vital humanitarian aid and reconstruction tools. On Friday, Hamas was seen using two bulldozers to dig for remains in Khan Younis' Hamad City, a residential complex that was heavily bombed and raided by Israeli forces earlier this year. Former Israeli ambassador Alon Liel said the return of the bodies is a highly emotional issue in Israel, increasing domestic pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. However, there is public frustration over suspicions that Hamas is not fully complying with the ceasefire. “There is a lot of anger,” Liel noted, reflecting the public sentiment. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas, saying that if it fails to return the remaining bodies — believed to total 28 — he would support Israel in resuming its military operations. So far, Hamas has returned the remains of nine confirmed captives, and a tenth body which Israel disputes was that of a hostage. As Gaza reels from the destruction, the local civil defense says over 10,000 Palestinians are still buried under rubble, with only 280 bodies recovered so far. The dire situation has pushed Hamas to urge mediators to press Israel to open border crossings, allow aid trucks, and speed up rebuilding efforts. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli operations reportedly continue in several parts of Gaza, hampering recovery efforts and delaying aid. For now, both humanitarian concerns and the issue of captive remains continue to hang over the fragile truce.

NEWS