The militant group Hamas on Sunday transferred the bodies of three Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of the month-old cease-fire agreement with Gaza Strip. The handover comes amid mounting suspicions between the parties and delays in implementing key provisions of the deal. The remains will undergo forensic testing in Israel, officials confirmed, while both sides point fingers over pacing and conditions of the exchange.
Partial progress in hostage-remains transfer
Under the current temporary pause in hostilities, Hamas delivered the coffins through ICRC channels to Israeli authorities, underscoring the humanitarian component of the agreement. Israel acknowledged receipt late Sunday, noting that the transferred remains are believed to be among the 11 bodies its military expects under the cease-fire terms. Hamas said earlier it was “ready to recover all bodies” within the zone defined by the truce but insisted logistical challenges and damage to Gaza’s infrastructure were slowing the process.
Although the transfer marks another step forward, it also highlights the fragility of the deal. Israel has criticised Hamas for slow movement and questioned the identities of previously received remains, while Hamas accuses Israel of restricting search operations and failing to deliver promised aid and withdrawals. The handover therefore remains both a sign of cooperation and a source of renewed mistrust.
Cease-fire deal faces key hurdles ahead
The cease-fire brokered in October set up a phased programme: living hostages are to be released first, then bodies of the dead, and finally, a broader pull-out of Israeli forces and reconstruction of Gaza. The handover of these three bodies signals movement in the second phase, but families and mediators have grown frustrated at the pace. The devastated terrain of Gaza, with collapsed buildings and unexploded ordnance, has slowed recovery operations that Hamas cites as “extreme operational difficulty.”
Simultaneously, occasional Israeli strikes and militant launches persist, raising concern that the deal may unravel. Israeli officials said a strike in northern Gaza killed a militant amid claims he was preparing an attack, while Hamas accused Israel of violating the “yellow line” withdrawal zone. With both sides warning of renewed escalation, the fulfilment of the hostage-exchange and prisoner-release terms will be critical to maintain calm and move toward a sustainable settlement.