Hamas Hands Over Hostage Body as Gaza Ceasefire Holds Firm

Cairo: In a development that underscores the fragile stability in the region, Hamas’ armed wing announced plans to hand over the body of a hostage on Wednesday night, even as intermittent clashes and airstrikes continue to test the limits of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire.

The announcement came shortly after the Israeli military reported killing two Palestinians who allegedly approached an occupied area in what was described as a “threatening manner.” Meanwhile, Gazan health authorities stated that another Palestinian civilian was killed while collecting firewood, further inflaming tensions despite the truce.

Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, both Israel and Hamas have engaged in a series of exchanges involving hostages, detainees, and bodies as part of the broader deal. Hamas has so far released all 20 living hostages held in Gaza in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian convicts and wartime detainees held in Israeli prisons.

However, the return of deceased hostages remains a contentious issue. Hamas claims that locating the bodies has become increasingly difficult due to the widespread devastation across Gaza, while Israel accuses the group of deliberately stalling the process.

According to Gaza health authorities, Hamas has so far returned 21 of the 28 bodies of hostages buried in the enclave. In response, Israel has handed over the bodies of 285 Palestinians who were killed since the conflict erupted in October 2023.

Though the intensity of Israeli strikes has lessened significantly, sporadic shelling and air raids continue to be reported across the Gaza Strip. The reduction in violence has allowed thousands of displaced Palestinians to cautiously return to their destroyed neighborhoods and permitted more humanitarian aid to flow into the territory.

Israeli forces have also pulled back from several urban positions, relocating behind a yellow demarcation line that now loosely defines the current areas of control.

The ceasefire, mediated by the United States, remains delicate, with both sides urging Washington to enforce stricter compliance and prevent further violations.

While the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the ongoing prisoner and body exchanges offer a faint glimmer of dialogue between the warring sides — a fragile thread holding the ceasefire in place amid deep-seated mistrust.