Tensions in Gaza surged Thursday as Israeli officials accused Hamas of intentionally delaying the return of hostage remains, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten a renewed military assault on Gaza. The pressure comes amid ongoing efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement brokered earlier this week.
According to Axios, unnamed Israeli and American officials confirmed that Tel Aviv informed the Trump administration on Wednesday that Hamas was “not doing enough” to retrieve and hand over the bodies of Israeli captives.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly spoke directly with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alleging that Hamas was “deliberately stalling” the process.
Dermer told the US team that Israel had shared intelligence indicating Hamas possesses more bodies than it has publicly acknowledged. He added that Israel would not move forward with the next phase of the ceasefire deal unless progress was made, per the Axios report.
In a statement issued via Telegram on Wednesday night, Hamas announced it had handed over the remains of two Israeli captives to the Red Cross, bringing the total to 10 bodies returned this week—out of 28 it has committed to deliver within 72 hours under the agreement.
The US, meanwhile, is eager to launch discussions on the next stage of the agreement, including the highly sensitive question of who will govern Gaza after the war. But Israeli officials have warned that without faster progress on recovering the remains, they may refuse to proceed.
Speaking to CNN, Trump issued a stark warning, saying he would authorize the return of Israeli forces to Gaza if Hamas fails to comply. Israeli occupation forces can redeploy on the ground “as soon as I say the word,” he warned. “What’s going on with Hamas–that’ll be straightened out quickly.”
He praised the release of 20 living captives earlier in the week, describing it as “paramount.”
For its part, Hamas issued a brief counter statement late Wednesday, affirming its full compliance with the terms of the agreement. The group said it had already handed over all living captives and the remains it could access, adding: “The remaining bodies require extensive effort and specialized equipment to extract from beneath the rubble.”
“We are doing everything in our power to close this file,” the statement read.
Hamas had informed mediators that it is unaware of the locations of all the bodies, a claim echoed by Israeli intelligence, which acknowledges that many may be difficult to locate, WSJ reported, however, Israel had anticipated receiving more bodies. In response, both parties have agreed to establish an international task force dedicated to locating the remaining bodies.
The exchange of remains is part of the initial phase of the ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration, and signed off by both Hamas, representatives from other Palestinian factions, and Israel during indirect negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh.
