The Hamas terrorist organization is intentionally delaying the search for and transfer of the remaining deceased captives to Israel, according to a report aired tonight (Thursday) on Channel 12's central news broadcast. Israeli officials believe Hamas is deliberately dragging its feet to manage the current political climate.
Israeli assessments indicate that Hamas possesses strong indications of where the bodies of the fallen captives are located, yet the terrorist group is withholding the information and not investing the necessary effort required by the current agreement.
Hamas’s Motivations for Delay
Hamas is believed to be employing this tactic due to two main concerns:
- Fear of Agreement Collapse: Hamas reportedly believes that Israel is actively seeking an opportunity to cause the complete collapse of the current agreement and is using the delay to prevent giving Israel a reason to withdraw.
- UN Security Council Resolution: Hamas is deeply concerned by a recent UN Security Council resolution that stipulates the terrorist organization can no longer exist in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution, which passed early this week, authorizes two international bodies to temporarily govern Gaza: a "Peace Council" to act as the interim government, and an international stabilization force to serve as the temporary military. These bodies are mandated to operate for at least two years, likely much longer, in coordination with Israel but without taking direct orders from it. The recent dynamics surrounding Gaza suggest that Israel will be the one forced to align with these bodies.
Consequently, Hamas has recently conveyed a message to mediators, stating: "This is the beginning of the end of the movement in Gaza." Due to this existential threat, Hamas has decided to "lower its profile" and project an image of compliance with the rules of the game established, in part, by U.S. President Trump, while actively working to delay the full implementation of the agreement by withholding the deceased captives.
The Remaining Deceased Captives
Three deceased captives, abducted on October 7, still remain in Gaza:
- Master Sgt. Ran Gvili: A fighter in the Negev Border Guard Unit who was killed during the battle at Kibbutz Alumim.
- Sutthisak Rienthalak: A foreign worker from Thailand who was killed while working in the orchards near Kibbutz Be’eri.
- Dror Or: Abducted from his home in Be'eri along with his children, Alma and Noam, and his nephew, Liam. His wife, Yonat z"l, a well-known furniture designer, was murdered. His eldest son, Yahli, was not at home and survived. Noam and Alma were released during the second phase of the hostage deal on November 25, 2023, with Liam following four days later.
The deliberate delay by Hamas is causing immense pain to the families of the fallen, as the terrorist group uses the bodies of the deceased as political leverage while it struggles with its future existence in the region.
