The punitive measures follow a period of cautious celebration, after Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails. As part of the agreement, Hamas also transferred the remains of four dead hostages. However, Israeli officials accuse the group of breaching the terms of the truce by deliberately withholding the other bodies.
In response to the delay, Israel announced that the flow of aid into the devastated Palestinian territory would be cut from 600 to 300 trucks and that the Rafah crossing would remain shuttered indefinitely. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the restrictions as "sanctions against Hamas" for failing to meet its commitment to return all the deceased.
Hamas maintains that it is facing significant logistical hurdles in locating and recovering the remaining bodies from amid the vast rubble and destruction across the Gaza Strip. A spokesman for the group informed mediators of the technical challenges, a position echoed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which described the search for human remains as a "massive challenge."
The impasse has drawn in international mediators and key figures involved in the ceasefire negotiations. Egypt is set to actively assist in the recovery efforts, with reports indicating that Egyptian teams have begun work inside Gaza to help locate the burial sites. According to Al Araby TV, an Israeli technical team is consulting with Egyptian officials to coordinate the complex process.
Adding to the diplomatic pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who was instrumental in brokering the peace plan, issued a stark warning. "A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE," he stated, adding, "THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED!" His comments underscore that the return of all hostages, both living and deceased, was a fundamental component of the agreement.
The closure of the Rafah crossing, a critical artery for humanitarian relief, is set to worsen the already dire situation for Gaza's two million residents. With homes, schools, and essential infrastructure decimated, the reduced aid flow threatens to compound the suffering and puts the future of the hard-won ceasefire in jeopardy. The resolution of the sensitive issue of the hostage remains now appears critical to salvaging the broader peace effort.