Israel has received the body of another hostage from Gaza, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The remains, handed over by Hamas via the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza, were transferred to Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. The deceased’s family will be informed once the process is complete.
Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed the body was that of an "occupation prisoner," implying the individual was Israeli. The return of hostages’ remains is one of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement — alongside the delivery of aid, border access, and steps toward Gaza’s reconstruction.
Search for Remains Amid Rubble
In a bid to support the fragile ceasefire, Hamas has begun using bulldozers to search for bodies buried under the rubble. Most of Gaza’s heavy machinery was destroyed during the war, hampering recovery efforts. On Friday, two bulldozers were seen digging in Khan Younis’ Hamad City, a heavily bombarded apartment complex where Israeli forces conducted a major raid earlier this year.
Israeli military says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not that of a hostage
Hamas has returned the remains of nine hostages so far this week, plus a tenth body that Israeli officials said was not one of the hostages. Hamas claims some remains are trapped in collapsed tunnels and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes and says the delay is partly due to Israel blocking new bulldozers from entering Gaza.
Trump Issues Warning, Pressures Hamas
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire, warned Hamas that failure to return all 28 deceased hostages could lead to Israel resuming its military campaign. Israel has reiterated that Hamas must comply with the agreement.
Though Hamas has confirmed its commitment to the terms of the deal, it claims that retrieving all bodies is difficult due to unexploded ordnance and Israeli troop presence in some areas. Mediators were told that efforts are underway to locate and return the bodies.
Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins with hostage and prisoner releases
Prisoner Exchanges and Ceasefire Conditions
Earlier this week, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages. In return, Israel freed roughly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel says it will continue to hold weekly protests until all hostages’ remains are returned.
Israel has also returned the bodies of 90 Palestinians to Gaza for burial and may return more, though exact numbers remain undisclosed. A Palestinian forensic team claimed some of the bodies showed signs of mistreatment.
The war, sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Thousands more are still missing, the Red Cross reports.
France Pushes for International Force in Gaza
France announced it is working with the U.S. and U.K. to draft a UN resolution that would create an international security force for Gaza. Arab nations, who would likely supply troops, are pushing for a UN mandate. The proposed force would work with Palestinian police trained in Egypt.
U.S. Discontent Over Israeli Strike in Qatar
On Friday, new information surfaced regarding the Trump administration’s reaction to a recent Israeli strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar. The attack occurred just as Hamas officials were reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said he and advisor Jared Kushner felt “betrayed” by Israel’s move, suggesting Trump believed Israel was becoming reckless and needed to be reined in.
Aid Still Slow to Reach Gaza
Despite the ceasefire, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains far below the agreed-upon levels. UN data shows only 339 trucks have been offloaded for distribution in Gaza since the ceasefire began — far short of the 600 trucks per day promised.
Israel's COGAT agency reported higher figures, including commercial and bilateral aid: 950 trucks entered Thursday and 716 on Wednesday. However, aid workers say deliveries remain inconsistent.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher visited a WFP-supported bakery in Deir al-Balah and stated that UN agencies are executing a 60-day plan to significantly expand aid efforts. He emphasized the need to open more border crossings to increase the flow of aid.
Since last Saturday, the World Food Program has delivered more than 280 trucks carrying about 3,000 metric tons of supplies for food distribution and bakery support.
Nahed Sheheiber, who heads Gaza’s private truckers’ union, noted improved security has prevented aid theft, but actual aid volumes have not increased significantly. Only 70 aid trucks entered Gaza on Thursday, he said.
Humanitarian Crisis Continues
More than 2 million Gazans are still facing severe shortages. During the war, Israel heavily restricted — and at times stopped — aid deliveries entirely. The UN has declared a famine in Gaza City, confirming over 400 deaths from hunger-related causes, including more than 100 children.
Israel insists it has allowed enough food into the territory and accuses Hamas of stealing aid. Aid groups and the UN strongly deny this claim.