Hamas Reaffirms Commitment to Hostage Deal

TDT | Gaza

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Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended its conflict with Israel, pledging to return the bodies of all hostages still missing beneath the ruins of Gaza.

The statement came after the group appealed for international assistance in locating the remains of 19 hostages believed to be buried under the rubble alongside numerous Palestinian victims. In response, Turkey dispatched a team of disaster recovery specialists to aid in the search operation.

The truce, mediated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, saw Hamas release 20 surviving hostages and hand over the remains of nine out of 28 confirmed deceased captives—along with another body, which Israel said did not belong to any of the hostages. In return, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and paused its military campaign in Gaza, which had been launched following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Thursday his pledge to “secure the return of all hostages,” warning through his defense minister that military operations would resume if Hamas failed to uphold its part of the agreement.

Later the same day, Hamas emphasized “its commitment to the agreement and its implementation,” while noting that retrieving the bodies “may require some time,” as many were buried in tunnels destroyed by Israeli forces or trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Turkey’s deployment of specialists has brought a renewed focus to the humanitarian side of the truce, but frustration is mounting among the families of Israeli victims. The main advocacy group representing the hostages’ relatives has called on the Israeli government to “suspend any further stages of the deal until Hamas fulfills its obligations.”