Israel’s Prime Minister has stated at a memorial service for victims of the October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas, that he is “determined” to ensure the return of the deceased hostages remaining in Gaza, and that the nation will persist in combating terrorism with “full force.”
Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks followed Hamas’s return of two more hostages’ bodies, while asserting their inability to access the remaining 19.
Frustration has mounted in Israel over Hamas’s failure to return all bodies as stipulated in last week’s Gaza ceasefire agreement, though the US has downplayed suggestions that this constitutes a breach.
Separately on Thursday, Donald Trump indicated his willingness to see hostilities resume should Hamas “continue to kill people.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the former US President stated “we will have no choice but to go in and kill,” seemingly referencing reports of violence within Gaza, where Hamas has faced accusations of violently targeting internal rivals in recent days.
Trump has previously ruled out deploying American soldiers on the ground in Gaza.
Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli government verified that two bodies handed over by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday night were identified as Inbar Hayman and Sgt Maj Muhammad al-Atarash.
Their return, overseen by masked Hamas gunmen in Gaza City, brought the number of deceased hostages returned since Monday to nine out of 28.
All 20 living hostages were released on Monday, in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.
Hamas’s military wing stated on Wednesday that it would continue searching for the remaining bodies, but that this endeavor would require significant efforts and specialized equipment.
Israel has responded to the delay by threatening to limit the amount of aid entering Gaza.
On Thursday, Netanyahu addressed an official memorial ceremony at the Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, two days after the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the October 7 attack.
The Prime Minister affirmed his commitment to securing the return of all deceased Israeli and foreign hostages, and reiterated his government’s willingness to resume military action in the event of renewed attacks against Israel.
He stated: “Our fight against terrorism will continue with full force. We will not allow evil to raise its head. We will exact the full price from anyone who harms us.”
The Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza following the October 7 attack, in which Hamas-led gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 others hostage.
At least 67,967 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel has urged Netanyahu’s government to “immediately halt the implementation” of the ceasefire agreement until the 19 bodies are returned.
Following Hamas’s statement that it was unable to retrieve all the bodies, two senior advisors to US President Donald Trump stated that preparations to move to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement were continuing.
The advisors told reporters that the US government did not presently believe Hamas had breached the agreement by failing to retrieve more remains, and said the group had acted in good faith by sharing information with interlocutors.
While the full text of the agreement between Israel and Hamas has not been publicly disclosed, a leaked version which appeared in Israeli media appeared to account for the possibility that not all of the bodies would be immediately accessible.
One senior US advisor cited the extent of the destruction in Gaza as a potential factor slowing the search, and suggested that rewards could be offered to civilians with information regarding the location of remains.
Hamas has reported to mediators that more than 20 people have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on Friday.
The Israeli military, which maintains control over more than half the territory, has stated that it opens fire to address threats to its troops.
Concurrently in Gaza, efforts are underway to identify the bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel in recent days in exchange for the hostages’ bodies. An additional 30 were returned on Thursday, bringing the total to 120.
Reports had indicated that the Rafah crossing with Egypt would reopen on Thursday, after being closed since the Gaza side was seized by Israeli forces in May 2024.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that its reopening would be “subject to the same mechanism implemented” during a temporary ceasefire earlier this year, when wounded Palestinians were briefly permitted to pass through for medical treatment.
On Thursday, an official from Israeli military body Cogat stated: “The date for the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage, once the Israeli side, together with the Egyptian side, completes the necessary preparations.”
The official also emphasized that “aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing.” Instead, they said, it would continue to enter Gaza through the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel and other crossings following Israeli security inspections.
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Hamas says it has returned the bodies it can reach in Gaza’s ruins, but needs specialised equipment and more time to retrieve others.
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