Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue exerting pressure on Hamas to recover the bodies of hostages still held in Gaza, vowing that Israel will persist in its campaign against terrorism “with full force.”
Speaking at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem for victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, Netanyahu said his government remains “determined” to bring back all remaining hostages’ bodies and to prevent any resurgence of terrorism.
“Our fight against terrorism will continue with full force,” he said at Mount Herzl National Cemetery. “We will not allow evil to raise its head. We will exact the full price from anyone who harms us.”
Netanyahu’s remarks came hours after Hamas handed over the bodies of two Israeli hostages — Inbar Hayman and Sgt. Maj. Muhammad al-Atarash — to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City. According to Israeli authorities, nine bodies have now been returned out of 28 confirmed dead.
Hamas said it was still searching for the remaining 19 bodies, citing the need for “specialist equipment” to locate them amid widespread destruction. Israeli officials accused the group of violating the recent ceasefire agreement, warning that humanitarian aid could be restricted until all the remains are recovered.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy organisation representing families of captives, urged the Israeli government to suspend the truce until Hamas fulfills its commitments.
In Washington, U.S. officials sought to ease tensions, disputing Israeli claims that Hamas had breached the truce. Two senior advisers to President Donald Trump told reporters that preparations for the next stage of the ceasefire were ongoing.
“We believe Hamas has acted in good faith by cooperating with mediators and sharing information about missing bodies,” one adviser said, noting that extensive damage in Gaza has hindered recovery efforts.
President Trump, writing on Truth Social, warned that the U.S. would “have no choice but to go in and kill” if Hamas “continues to kill people,” while reiterating his opposition to deploying American troops to Gaza.
Under the current ceasefire arrangement, Hamas released 20 living hostages on Monday in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. The agreement also provides for the gradual return of deceased hostages’ remains.
A leaked version of the deal published in Israeli media indicates that delays in body recovery are permissible in areas rendered inaccessible by bombardment.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began after the October 7, 2023 attack, when Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 67,967 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes — figures deemed credible by the United Nations.
Israeli officials also confirmed that preparations are underway to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which has remained closed since Israeli forces seized the Gaza side in May 2024.
A spokesperson for COGAT, Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinian territories, said the crossing will reopen “for the movement of people only” once coordination with Egypt is finalised. Humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom and other Israeli crossings following security inspections.
The developments come amid growing public anger in Israel and mounting international pressure on Netanyahu to balance military objectives with ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
