Hamas Hands Over Body of Israeli Captive Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas on Monday handed over the body of an Israeli captive as part of ongoing efforts to uphold the current ceasefire agreement. This follows the earlier handover of two bodies on October 21, when the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, recovered remains from beneath the rubble in Gaza.

Since the truce began, the Palestinian resistance has delivered the remains of 18 captives out of 28, most of them Israeli, along with 20 living captives, according to local reports.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Egyptian engineering teams have been granted access to Gaza to help recover the remaining bodies believed to be buried under heavy rubble caused by months of Israeli bombardment. On October 26, an Egyptian convoy with heavy machinery entered Gaza through the Karem Abu Salem crossing after receiving approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The operation is being coordinated with the Red Cross to assist Palestinian civil defense crews.

However, Turkish rescue teams remain barred after Israel reportedly objected to their participation. Hamas said around a dozen bodies are still unrecovered due to a lack of equipment and Israel’s ongoing blockade restricting essential machinery.

Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire but accused Israel of repeated violations and fabricating excuses to continue attacks. Despite the truce declared on October 11, Israeli forces have carried out strikes and raids in several areas of Gaza, including Khan Younis, Rafah, and Deir al-Balah.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least eight people were martyred and 13 injured in the past 48 hours from Israeli drone and artillery fire.

Humanitarian organizations warn that Israeli restrictions on aid and construction materials are worsening Gaza’s crisis. UN reports show that 83% of Gaza City’s structures have been destroyed and more than 81,000 homes damaged, leaving thousands displaced.

Since the ceasefire began, at least 93 Palestinians have been martyred and 337 injured, while rescue teams have recovered 472 bodies from the debris.

The handover of captives’ bodies marks a small step forward in implementing the truce, but reconstruction and aid deliveries remain stalled amid severe humanitarian challenges. More than 40 aid organizations have condemned Israel’s blockade, warning that it threatens both civilian lives and the fragile ceasefire.