Hamas releases the bodies of 4 dead Israeli hostages, but dozens remain missing. Where are they -- and what happens next? [View all]
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