Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s determination to bring back all hostages held in Gaza during a state ceremony at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery. Netanyahu emphasized that the fight was ongoing and that Israel was resolute in ensuring the return of all captives, following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the military campaign in Gaza.
Israel announced its readiness for the potential reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, although no specific timeline was provided. The Israeli government affirmed its commitment to a US-mediated ceasefire agreement while pressing Hamas to return the bodies of 19 deceased hostages that were yet to be handed over.
Hamas had returned 10 bodies, but Israel disputed the identity of one body. Hamas claimed to have handed over all recoverable bodies, citing the need for heavy machinery to access more bodies in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
In response, a senior Hamas official accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by allegedly killing 24 individuals in shootings since the previous Friday. The official reported these violations to mediators, alleging that Israel was undermining the agreement with its actions.
Israel’s military did not immediately address the accusations but previously stated that it had fired on individuals approaching ceasefire positions to eliminate perceived threats. In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis reportedly killed two people, prompting differing accounts from Israeli forces and local health authorities regarding the circumstances.
The next phase of the ceasefire plan, formulated under the Trump administration’s guidance, called for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control, a demand that Hamas has rejected. Instead, Hamas has focused on asserting its authority through security measures in areas vacated by Israeli forces.
Recent developments included the release of 20 hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Additionally, Israel released 30 bodies of Palestinians, bringing the total bodies handed over to 120 since Monday.
Humanitarian aid efforts intensified, with UNICEF delivering supplies to Gaza, including family tents, winter clothing, hygiene items, and baby food. Despite these efforts, the Gaza Strip remained devastated by Israeli airstrikes, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction.
The military campaign was triggered by Hamas’ attack in October 2023, leading to fatalities and hostages being taken to Gaza, setting off a series of events that have unfolded in the region.