ALWAGHT- The International Committee of the Red Cross entered Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza with Hamas members to assist in locating the bodies of Israeli hostages, as the group returned the remains of yet another captive.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire in place since 10 October, Hamas must return the remains of Israeli hostages, while Israel has agreed to release 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli. Hamas has so far returned 15 sets of remains, but others are believed to lie beyond areas where Israeli forces have withdrawn, making recovery efforts difficult amid extensive destruction.
To facilitate searches, Hamas members have been permitted to enter zones past the Israeli-designated “yellow line”, accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Egyptian teams. The ICRC stressed it is acting only as a neutral intermediary and does not take part in negotiations or physically recover remains, as responsibility under international law lies with the warring parties.
The issue has intensified politically. Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Hamas quickly return the bodies, including those of two Americans, warning of international action if it failed to comply. Israel insists Hamas knows where the bodies are, while Hamas says rubble, missing fighters, and destroyed communication with its units have hindered recovery.
The hostage-remains issue is now central to sustaining the ceasefire, intersecting with broader disputes over Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s future governance. While Washington says Hamas has agreed in principle to disarm, no timeline has been set, and the group links giving up weapons to an end of Israeli occupation. Efforts to form a post-war stabilization force also face friction, with Israel rejecting Turkey’s participation due to what it views as Ankara’s hostile stance.
