Hamas Returns Israeli Hostage Remains with Red Cross Help Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has returned the remains of another Israeli hostage, with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in a move seen as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
According to sources close to the negotiations, Hamas is required to return the remains of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible in exchange for Israel's agreement to hand over 15 Palestinian bodies. The group has so far returned the remains of 15 of those held captive, but some are believed to be located in areas beyond the yellow line marking the Israeli military's pullback inside Gaza.
The ICRC played a key role in facilitating the search for the hostages' remains, accompanying Hamas members on expeditions into areas still under Israeli control. In a statement, an ICRC spokesperson said that the organization acted as a neutral intermediary, assisting the parties to the conflict in determining the modalities of the operation.
However, the search for the bodies has proven difficult, with estimates suggesting that at least 10,000 Palestinians are recorded as missing, buried under the rubble. The group's military wing, the al-Qassam brigades, acknowledged that it faces obstacles in locating some of the remains, saying it had lost contact with several units that held captives and were reportedly killed during Israeli bombardments.
The US has expressed concerns over the pace of the return, with President Donald Trump issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Hamas. However, Trump later conceded that some of the bodies are difficult to reach, citing the need for Hamas to disarm in exchange for the remains.
Despite these challenges, the ceasefire agreement appears to be holding, with Egyptian teams authorized by Israel searching for remains alongside Hamas and ICRC officials. The truce is seen as a key step towards stabilizing the Gaza Strip, with Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing his government's willingness to participate in a stabilization force.
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has ruled out Turkey's participation, citing concerns over the country's historical hostility towards Israel. The fate of Hamas's disarmament remains uncertain, with the group's chief negotiator saying that its weapons are "tied to the existence of occupation and aggression".
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has returned the remains of another Israeli hostage, with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in a move seen as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
According to sources close to the negotiations, Hamas is required to return the remains of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible in exchange for Israel's agreement to hand over 15 Palestinian bodies. The group has so far returned the remains of 15 of those held captive, but some are believed to be located in areas beyond the yellow line marking the Israeli military's pullback inside Gaza.
The ICRC played a key role in facilitating the search for the hostages' remains, accompanying Hamas members on expeditions into areas still under Israeli control. In a statement, an ICRC spokesperson said that the organization acted as a neutral intermediary, assisting the parties to the conflict in determining the modalities of the operation.
However, the search for the bodies has proven difficult, with estimates suggesting that at least 10,000 Palestinians are recorded as missing, buried under the rubble. The group's military wing, the al-Qassam brigades, acknowledged that it faces obstacles in locating some of the remains, saying it had lost contact with several units that held captives and were reportedly killed during Israeli bombardments.
The US has expressed concerns over the pace of the return, with President Donald Trump issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Hamas. However, Trump later conceded that some of the bodies are difficult to reach, citing the need for Hamas to disarm in exchange for the remains.
Despite these challenges, the ceasefire agreement appears to be holding, with Egyptian teams authorized by Israel searching for remains alongside Hamas and ICRC officials. The truce is seen as a key step towards stabilizing the Gaza Strip, with Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing his government's willingness to participate in a stabilization force.
However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has ruled out Turkey's participation, citing concerns over the country's historical hostility towards Israel. The fate of Hamas's disarmament remains uncertain, with the group's chief negotiator saying that its weapons are "tied to the existence of occupation and aggression".
. It's heartbreaking to think that 10,000 Palestinians are still missing under the rubble... my heart goes out to their families who are still searching for loved ones 
. The US is trying to negotiate with Hamas but it's a tough situation... can we just find a way to bring peace back to Gaza already? 
I'm so tired of all these conflicts and wars. Can't we just get along? 
I'm just so done with this whole situation... like seriously can't we all just get along? 
It's heartbreaking thinking about those 10,000+ Palestinians who are still MIA under the rubble, it's just... ugh. 
But for real though, can we please focus on finding those missing people instead of getting caught up in all this back-and-forth? 
but like, at the same time... what about the ones who are still buried under the rubble? 
... anyway, return of Israeli hostages is a good start but what about those still missing? Like 10k+ people are still buried under rubble and Hamas has no idea where some of them are 
. still got to wonder about those 10k+ missing palestinians... can't imagine how hard it must be for their families 
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... but I also think we need to be careful not to forget about all the complexities involved here 
. The fact that Turkey is offering to help stabilize Gaza, while Israel is being a bit more cautious, it's just another layer of nuance to consider 
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... even if there's still a long way to go!
. However, 10,000 Palestinians are still missing... it's just not right 
. I also think it's interesting how the US got involved in this ceasefire agreement - sometimes these big powers can make all the difference 
. And what's with Turkey wanting to help stabilize Gaza? Israel seems pretty skeptical about that