Gaza, Oct 17 (V7N) – Even after the ceasefire came into effect in Gaza, Israeli attacks have persisted, causing daily casualties among Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have restricted humanitarian aid by closing the Rafah crossing with Egypt, while exerting pressure to retrieve the bodies of deceased hostages. Hamas has stated that all bodies currently in their possession have been returned, with the remaining trapped under rubble to be recovered and handed over as soon as possible.

More than 10,000 Palestinians are reportedly buried under collapsed buildings in Gaza, with their whereabouts still unknown. Amid this crisis, Hamas has requested additional time from Israel to facilitate the return of bodies.

On Thursday, The Guardian reported that Hamas stressed it cannot return any further Israeli bodies without the necessary experts and rescue equipment to recover individuals trapped under rubble. Following this statement, Israel warned of renewed attacks in Gaza, citing alleged violations of ceasefire terms. Earlier, a Hamas official noted that Israel’s widespread destructive operations have made it extremely difficult to recover bodies.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli drone strikes in Bani Suheila, Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, killed at least one person and injured two others. Additionally, Israeli military fire in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza claimed another life. A Gaza City resident, injured in earlier IDF strikes two days prior, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he could authorize Israel to resume operations in Gaza if Hamas refuses to comply with the ceasefire. Speaking to CNN, he remarked, “Israeli forces will return to the field if necessary,” and emphasized that the issues caused by Hamas would be resolved promptly.

Following Trump’s statement, two senior U.S. advisers clarified that Washington does not consider Hamas to be violating the ceasefire by not returning all deceased hostages. The U.S. has secured assurances from Hamas through third-party mediators that all remaining bodies will be recovered and returned. Intelligence and logistical support are also being provided to locate these bodies, which are often buried under rubble.

Under the terms of the current ceasefire, Hamas released 20 hostages earlier this week. Subsequently, four and three bodies were handed over to Israel in two separate transfers. On Wednesday night, Hamas returned the bodies of two additional hostages, bringing the total number of returned bodies to nine out of 28. Nineteen bodies remain unaccounted for in Gaza, though it is believed Hamas no longer has possession of them.

The ongoing conflict highlights the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilian casualties continue amid infrastructure devastation, restricted aid, and the complex negotiation over the return of hostages and deceased individuals.

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