Hamas’ armed wing said it had decided to hand over the bodies of two deceased hostages in Gaza at 2200 local time (1900 GMT) on Wednesday, as part of a ceasefire deal between the Palestinian group and Israel. The move marks the latest step in the implementation of the truce, even as both sides exchange cautious statements about their next actions.
In a statement reported by Reuters, Hamas’ military wing said that locating and retrieving the remaining bodies of hostages in Gaza required “a lot of effort and special equipment,” citing the extensive destruction across the enclave.
The group emphasised its commitment to the ceasefire terms, saying it had already handed over all living hostages and the bodies it had managed to recover, and was continuing efforts “to close that file completely.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that the Red Cross was en route to a designated meeting point in the northern Gaza Strip to receive several bodies of deceased hostages. The army did not specify the number, though Hamas had earlier said two bodies would be transferred under the current agreement.
The exchange comes as international mediators continue to monitor the ceasefire, seeking to prevent renewed violence after months of devastating conflict.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump told CNN on Wednesday that he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting if Hamas failed to comply fully with the ceasefire deal. “Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word,” Trump said in a brief telephone interview. “If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that.”
– Ends
With inputs from Reuters
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