pressure grows on Hamas
Two Hostage Coffins Returned - Hamas Claims: “These Are All We Can Reach”:
The Red Cross transferred two bodies of Israeli hostages to the IDF for forensic identification, while Hamas insists it has returned every hostage it can locate. Israeli officials reject the claim, saying the group still holds remains of at least ten more.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) handed over two coffins of Israeli hostages killed in Gaza to IDF forces on Wednesday night. The remains have been transferred to Israel’s National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification.
At the same time, Hamas announced that it had returned all living hostages, and “all the deceased hostages we can reach.” The statement implies that 19 others remain unrecovered. “Accessing the remaining bodies requires extensive efforts and specialized equipment,” said the group’s military wing.
Israeli security officials have dismissed the claim, saying Hamas could locate and deliver “at least ten more” hostage bodies.
Egypt and Turkey are expected to deploy search teams in Gaza in the coming days to assist in locating additional remains.
Israel has reportedly provided the mediators with coordinates of sites where it believes hostages may be buried.
Officials fear the process could drag on for weeks, emphasizing that Hamas must show “100 percent effort”, something they say is not yet evident.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that “two coffins containing the bodies of Israeli hostages were handed over to IDF and Shin Bet forces inside Gaza. From there they were transferred to Israel, where they were received in a military ceremony with the Chief Rabbi of the IDF present.”
Following the handover, the IDF and Shin Bet stated that “the two coffins crossed into Israel and are en route to the forensic center, where identification procedures will be carried out. Representatives of the IDF are accompanying the families, and we urge the public to await the official identification before sharing any unverified information.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told CNN he would support Israel’s resumption of military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold the ceasefire terms. “Israel can go back into Gaza the moment I give the green light,” he said. “What’s happening with Hamas will be fixed quickly.”
Earlier reports suggested Hamas would return up to five bodies, but by nightfall, only two were handed over. Israeli intelligence believes the group still possesses the remains of more than a dozen hostages. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in the earlier hostage release deal, is said to be “deeply involved” in the current talks, pressing Hamas to stop “playing games.”
According to a senior Israeli source, “There’s a concerted effort to retrieve more bodies. The Americans, Egyptians, and Turks are all involved. But the terrain is complicated, and it will take time.”
In recent days, Hamas transferred the body of a Palestinian dressed in an IDF uniform, which was later determined not to belong to any Israeli hostage. Israeli officials said the move was “provocative and infuriating” but not considered a violation of the agreement.
Following the return of three Israeli hostages’ bodies earlier this week, Israel released 45 Palestinian bodies, a ratio of 15 for each Israeli, as per the terms of the deal.
Despite delays and tensions, Israel is refraining from imposing new sanctions on Hamas for now. The Rafah Crossing remains closed to Gazan traffic, officially due to “logistical issues,” though Israeli sources admit it also serves as leverage amid the dispute over the remaining hostages.
In the meantime, around 600 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom Crossing, double the number previously planned, as the fragile ceasefire holds by a thread.