The Israeli government confirmed that Hamas has handed over more hostage remains, though delays in recovering bodies from Gaza’s rubble are putting pressure on the ongoing ceasefire.
Israel’s army identified one of the returned hostages as Ronen Engel, 54, who was abducted and killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. His remains were brought back to Israel, and authorities reiterated their commitment to repatriating all fallen hostages.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire, Hamas has so far released 20 living hostages and the remains of 12 dead, while Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned 135 bodies.
Read More: Hamas Hands Over Two More Hostage Bodies to Israel
The Rafah border crossing with Egypt remains closed on orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said reopening depends on Hamas fulfilling its commitments. Hamas warned that the closure would delay the retrieval of more remains.
Despite the truce, violence persists. Gaza’s civil defence said Israeli tank fire killed nine members of one family, including children, in Gaza City. The Israeli military claimed it fired on a vehicle approaching a restricted zone.
Read More: Israel Closes Rafah Border Indefinitely Amid Gaza Tensions
Aid agencies, led by the UN, are struggling to deliver food and medical supplies due to the closure. UN official Tom Fletcher announced a 60-day humanitarian plan to provide food, shelter, and education to Gaza’s displaced population.