Hamas returns two more hostage bodies citing equipment shortage; Israel threatens renewed action as Trump warns Gaza ceasefire may collapse.
Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, Hamas has handed over the remains of two additional Israeli hostages under the ongoing US-mediated Gaza ceasefire agreement but warned that recovering more bodies will require specialized equipment and more time.
The development has reignited disputes between Israel and Hamas, casting uncertainty over the fragile truce brokered by President Donald Trump just two weeks ago.
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Gaza Ceasefire: Hamas Claims Recovery Challenges
Hamas’s military faction, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Wednesday that it has returned all accessible remains of Israeli hostages and is struggling to recover others buried under Gaza’s extensive rubble. “The remaining bodies require significant effort and specialized equipment to locate and retrieve, and we are working diligently to close this matter,” the group said in a statement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed it had received two coffins containing the remains, which were then transferred to Israeli authorities for forensic examination. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the remains were being examined at the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv to verify identities.
Gaza Ceasefire: 19 Hostages Still Missing
Israeli officials said that while Hamas has delivered 20 living hostages and now 10 deceased individuals since the ceasefire began, at least 19 more remain unaccounted for.
Under the Trump-backed Gaza peace deal, Hamas was obligated to return all 48 hostages — living and deceased — by October 13.
Confusion deepened earlier this week when Israeli authorities verified that one of four bodies returned by Hamas on Tuesday did not belong to a hostage, suggesting possible disorganization within the militant group’s handling of remains.
Gaza ceasefire: Trump’s Warning to Hamas
President Trump issued a sharp warning on Wednesday, telling CNN that he could authorize Israel to resume military operations in Gaza “as soon as I say the word” if Hamas fails to honor the ceasefire. “What’s happening with Hamas — that will be straightened out quickly,” Trump said, emphasizing that freeing hostages and maintaining the ceasefire remain top priorities for his administration.
Trump further noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains “ready to act at any moment” but has been urged by Washington to show restraint while recovery and verification processes continue. “I had to hold them back,” Trump admitted in remarks to reporters.
Gaza Ceasefire: Israel Accuses Hamas of Stalling
Israeli officials accused Hamas of deliberately slowing down the retrieval process, claiming the group has access to more bodies than it admits. Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to draft contingency plans for renewed operations if Hamas continues to “delay compliance.”
As a punitive measure, Israel has already restricted humanitarian aid into Gaza to 300 trucks daily instead of the agreed 600.
Senior officials also said the government is seeking assistance from Egyptian and Turkish rescue teams to locate missing remains in Gaza’s ruins using satellite coordinates provided by Israel.
However, experts estimate the recovery could take weeks given the devastation across the enclave.
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Gaza Ceasefire Near Breaking Point
Though the ceasefire technically remains in place, multiple diplomatic sources describe the truce as “hanging by a thread.” Analysts note that any further delay by Hamas could prompt renewed Israeli operations, threatening to reignite hostilities that left thousands dead earlier this year.
The US continues to mediate communication between both sides, with Trump administration officials stressing that while Hamas has “technically not violated” the deal yet, progress is “slower than expected.” The situation remains volatile as both parties edge close to breaching the terms of the fragile truce.