Photo: BASHAR TALEB / AFP / Getty Images
On Tuesday (October 14), Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The transfer was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which collected the coffins in Gaza and transported them to Israeli forces. This development comes amid ongoing tensions and a fragile ceasefire in the region.
The return of the bodies is part of a broader ceasefire agreement brokered with the involvement of international mediators, including the United States. President Donald Trump has warned Hamas to disarm and comply with the terms of the ceasefire. He emphasized the need for Hamas to return all hostages, both living and deceased, as part of the agreement.
The bodies of the hostages, including Israeli national Guy Iluz and Nepalese student Bipin Joshi, have been taken to a specialist center in Israel for formal identification. The identities of the other two hostages have not been disclosed at the request of their families. The return of these bodies marks a partial fulfillment of the ceasefire terms, as 24 more hostages are believed to remain in Gaza.
President Trump has expressed concerns about the number of bodies Hamas can return, indicating that the group may have misrepresented the figures during negotiations. The ceasefire remains tenuous, with ongoing discussions about the future of the region and the implementation of peace plans.