DaysofPal – Efforts are underway in northern Gaza to locate the bodies of two remaining Israeli captives whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Members of the Qassam Brigades, working in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have begun new excavation operations amid the massive destruction in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Reports indicate that Hamas may soon hand over one of the bodies, a development seen as a key signal of attempts to keep the fragile ceasefire agreement alive. The truce, now in its fourth week, is “balanced on a knife-edge.”
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement had exerted “tremendous efforts” to recover the bodies of most Israeli prisoners and was working to retrieve the final two. He stressed that Hamas is committed to closing the file completely in line with the obligations of the agreement’s first phase.
Qassem said that Israel is undermining the truce through ongoing attacks, noting the killing of two children inside a shelter in Bani Suheila. He called on mediators to take “concrete action” to compel Israel to halt its violations.
Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, Hamas has handed over 20 Israeli captives alive and the remains of 26 others, out of a total of 28 documented Israeli fatalities.
Israel has conditioned the start of negotiations for phase two of the agreement, including additional prisoner releases and discussions on forming a transitional authority, on receiving the remaining bodies. Hamas insists that retrieving them will require more time due to the extensive destruction left by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued to carry out attacks across the Gaza Strip. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, Israel has committed 591 violations since the truce began, killing more than 357 Palestinians and injuring 903 others.
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