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

[AloeVera]

1. Netanyahu and Trump made a demand they knew Hamas could not meet.

A trap.

None of this came as a surprise, however.

Though Hamas was technically required to release all hostages, alive and dead, by noon Monday, negotiators for the militant group had previously indicated that recovering the bodies of some deceased hostages could take longer — a claim that Israeli intelligence had independently confirmed, according to a recent CNN report.

“Sources say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet have known for months that Hamas does not know the whereabouts of some of the deceased hostages and may therefore be unable to meet that demand,” CNN reported, putting the most recent count in the “single figures” (while noting that earlier intelligence assessments had suggested a higher number). The Times of Israel reported that anywhere from seven to 15 bodies may be missing.

CNN also reported that the U.S. has “known about the issue for some time,” and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said as much in his meeting Saturday night with the hostages’ families, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

Israelii PM Katz is already demanding retribution and threatening fire and brimstone.

Whoever could have predicted this?