Hamas releases the bodies of 4 dead Israeli hostages, but dozens remain missing. Where are they -- and what happens next?
In accordance with the terms of the open-ended ceasefire deal signed last week, 20 hostages in Gaza were returned to Israel on Monday in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Speaking to Israeli lawmakers, President Trump hailed the swap as “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
But in one respect it fell short. Hamas has also agreed to turn over the bodies of at least 26 hostages who died in captivity. Yet so far — at the end of the 72-hour window stipulated by the truce — only four coffins have been received by the Israeli military, sparking outrage among some Israelis.
“This represents a blatant breach of the agreement by Hamas,” the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, an Israeli advocacy group, claimed in a statement. “The families of the deceased hostages are enduring especially difficult days filled with deep sorrow. … The mediators must enforce the agreement’s terms and ensure Hamas pays a price for this violation.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/article/hamas-releases-the-bodies-of-4-dead-israeli-hostages-but-dozens-remain-missing-where-are-they--and-what-happens-next-203755287.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
A trap.
Though Hamas was technically required to release all hostages, alive and dead, by noon Monday, negotiators for the militant group had previously indicated that recovering the bodies of some deceased hostages could take longer — a claim that Israeli intelligence had independently confirmed, according to a recent CNN report.
“Sources say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet have known for months that Hamas does not know the whereabouts of some of the deceased hostages and may therefore be unable to meet that demand,” CNN reported, putting the most recent count in the “single figures” (while noting that earlier intelligence assessments had suggested a higher number). The Times of Israel reported that anywhere from seven to 15 bodies may be missing.
CNN also reported that the U.S. has “known about the issue for some time,” and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said as much in his meeting Saturday night with the hostages’ families, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
Israelii PM Katz is already demanding retribution and threatening fire and brimstone.
Whoever could have predicted this?
