TEL AVIV / GAZA( The COW News Digital) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed there will be no compromise over the return of the bodies of hostages killed in Gaza, declaring that Jerusalem will press its demands “until the last body is returned.” The statement underlines continuing tensions around the fragile arrangements reached under the recent ceasefire framework.
Netanyahu told reporters that Israel will not yield on the issue even if it requires additional pressure or military measures. “We will continue our efforts until the final remains of our abducted citizens are brought home,” he said, according to official remarks released by his office. The prime minister’s comments follow the partial handover of remains under the terms of the ceasefire deal, and reflect growing impatience in Israel over outstanding cases.
Israeli officials confirmed that while some bodies have been returned, a number remain unaccounted for. Jerusalem has emphasized that failure by Hamas to fully comply could prompt renewed operations in Gaza. The Israeli position was echoed by other voices who warn that the pause in fighting is contingent on continued cooperation over humanitarian and prisoner-related clauses.
Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said it had handed over the remains of two additional hostages under the agreement but warned that recovering further bodies will require large-scale search efforts and specialized equipment. In a separate statement, al-Qassam indicated it was undertaking intensive measures to locate the deceased amid the devastation in parts of Gaza, and said it was seeking to fulfil its responsibilities under the terms brokered by mediators.
The high-stakes dispute over remains and detainees has attracted international attention, with mediators and humanitarian agencies urging both sides to expedite procedures for identification and transfer. Observers say the issue is acutely sensitive in Israel, where families of the missing and slain have been pressing the government for results.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump—referenced in recent commentary on the ceasefire arrangements—warned that if Hamas fails to honour the deal, Israel should be permitted to resume military action to secure compliance. Such statements have further complicated diplomatic efforts to maintain the fragile truce and expand relief operations for civilians.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies continue to press for unfettered access to Gaza to recover bodies, provide medical care, and support reconstruction. The logistical and security challenges in heavily damaged areas, however, mean recoveries may be slow and fraught with risk.
As both sides trade assertions, the fate of the remaining bodies remains a central moral and political flashpoint — one that could determine whether the ceasefire holds or fractures into renewed hostilities.
