Gaza / Jerusalem ( The COW News Digital)In line with the ongoing Gaza peace agreement, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas has handed over the bodies of two more Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, which subsequently transferred them to Israeli military officials stationed inside Gaza.
According to international media reports, the transfer marks another step in the implementation of the peace framework brokered under U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, released a brief statement confirming the handover and reaffirming their commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the deal.
“We are acting in accordance with the Trump peace plan,” the statement said. “We have returned all the living hostages and the bodies that were accessible to us.”
The group further clarified that efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining bodies of Israeli hostages believed to have been killed during the intense fighting in Gaza. “Recovering the other bodies requires large-scale operations and specialized equipment to search through collapsed structures,” Hamas added. “We are making every possible effort to complete this process as soon as possible.”
This latest handover brings the total number of deceased Israeli hostages returned by Hamas to ten. Earlier, the group had transferred the remains of eight hostages as part of the phased agreement that also involves humanitarian exchanges and reconstruction aid for Gaza.
Israeli officials have confirmed receiving the two bodies and expressed cautious optimism about the continuation of the process. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that “no compromise will be made” regarding the return of all hostages — living or dead — as a condition for maintaining the current ceasefire.
International observers believe the process remains fragile. Analysts warn that any delay or perceived noncompliance from Hamas could reignite military tensions, particularly as both Israel and the United States have issued firm warnings of renewed action if the agreement collapses.
A foreign media report suggested that several hostages may have died not during captivity, but as a result of Israel’s own intense bombardments on Gaza, which left thousands of structures destroyed.
The Red Cross has called on both sides to ensure full access to humanitarian operations and to continue cooperation for the dignified return of all those who lost their lives during the conflict.
