Hamas Hands Over Two Bodies in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks
In a move seen as part of its efforts to fulfill its commitments under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas has handed over two bodies of deceased Israeli captives. The handover came on the heels of a devastating wave of Israeli strikes across the besieged Gaza Strip, shattering the fragile truce that had held for just eight days.
According to Israeli authorities, the two bodies were identified as Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, both of whom were kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7 attacks. The circumstances surrounding their deaths will be determined once a post-mortem examination is conducted at Tel Aviv's Abu Kabir forensic institute.
The transfer of these remains marks the fifth time this month that Hamas has handed over bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments, as part of an agreement to return the remains of 28 captives in exchange for the bodies of Israelis who were held captive by Hamas. However, the process has been marred by logistical and operational challenges, with Israel accusing Hamas of deliberately procrastinating the release of the bodies.
This development comes at a time when the truce is facing significant challenges, including a surge in Israeli attacks that have killed dozens of Palestinians across the enclave, including 46 children and 20 women. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over the past two days alone, more than 100 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with thousands of Palestinians still buried under debris from Israeli bombardments. Humanitarian organizations are scrambling to provide aid, but their efforts have been hindered by funding shortfalls and issues coordinating with Israeli authorities, which continue to seal vital border crossings.
As the situation in Gaza remains precarious, the international community is watching closely to see if Hamas will be able to fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. The transfer of these two bodies marks a small step forward, but the road ahead will likely be fraught with challenges and uncertainties.
In a move seen as part of its efforts to fulfill its commitments under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas has handed over two bodies of deceased Israeli captives. The handover came on the heels of a devastating wave of Israeli strikes across the besieged Gaza Strip, shattering the fragile truce that had held for just eight days.
According to Israeli authorities, the two bodies were identified as Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, both of whom were kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7 attacks. The circumstances surrounding their deaths will be determined once a post-mortem examination is conducted at Tel Aviv's Abu Kabir forensic institute.
The transfer of these remains marks the fifth time this month that Hamas has handed over bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments, as part of an agreement to return the remains of 28 captives in exchange for the bodies of Israelis who were held captive by Hamas. However, the process has been marred by logistical and operational challenges, with Israel accusing Hamas of deliberately procrastinating the release of the bodies.
This development comes at a time when the truce is facing significant challenges, including a surge in Israeli attacks that have killed dozens of Palestinians across the enclave, including 46 children and 20 women. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over the past two days alone, more than 100 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with thousands of Palestinians still buried under debris from Israeli bombardments. Humanitarian organizations are scrambling to provide aid, but their efforts have been hindered by funding shortfalls and issues coordinating with Israeli authorities, which continue to seal vital border crossings.
As the situation in Gaza remains precarious, the international community is watching closely to see if Hamas will be able to fulfill its commitments under the ceasefire agreement. The transfer of these two bodies marks a small step forward, but the road ahead will likely be fraught with challenges and uncertainties.