The US has played down claims that Hamas is violating the ceasefire deal with Israel by not returning all the bodies of dead hostages. Only nine of 28 dead hostages have been returned, with Hamas saying it needs time and specialized equipment to recover the others from the ruins of Gaza.
Despite the criticism, senior US advisers to President Donald Trump say plans are underway to demilitarize the Strip and build a new transitional government. The US does not believe Hamas has broken the agreement by not retrieving more remains.
Hamas’s armed wing claims it has returned all the bodies of hostages it was able to reach, but the recovery of all the bodies could take weeks due to the level of destruction in Gaza. Rewards may be offered for Gazan civilians who provide information on the location of remaining bodies.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the return of two more deceased hostages, Inbar Hayman and Sgt Maj Muhammad al-Atarash. The Hostages Families Forum expressed relief at their return but urged Hamas to fulfill its part of the agreement and return all 28 dead hostages as part of the first phase of the Gaza peace plan.
The ceasefire deal requires Israel to hand over the bodies of 15 Palestinians in exchange for every deceased Israeli hostage, while Hamas is required to return all the 20 living hostages. However, with food prices surging and residents reporting growing concern about the durability of the ceasefire, aid remains a pressing issue.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w9py9940go