What's happened
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, with ongoing delays in returning the remains of deceased hostages. The last body, of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, is still in Gaza, while efforts continue to exchange captives and remains under international supervision.
What's behind the headline?
The ongoing delays in returning the remains of the last hostages highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the complex logistics involved in post-conflict recovery. The slow process underscores the deep mistrust between the parties and the difficulty in implementing international agreements in a highly volatile environment. The continued Israeli military operations in Gaza, despite the ceasefire, suggest that the conflict remains unresolved and that the humanitarian crisis persists. The involvement of international mediators like the Red Cross indicates the importance of external oversight, but the situation remains unpredictable. The return of the last bodies is a symbolic step that could pave the way for further negotiations, but the underlying tensions suggest that a durable peace remains distant.
What the papers say
France 24 reports that the last deceased hostage, Sudthisak Rinthalak, was returned for burial after identification, but the body of Israeli officer Ran Gvili remains in Gaza. Reuters confirms that Gvili's body is still in Gaza, and the return of his remains is a key condition for the ceasefire's success. SBS notes ongoing Israeli attacks and the continued presence of the last hostage's body in Gaza. The New Arab highlights delays in returning the remains, with Hamas citing rubble and logistical issues, and emphasizes the fragile state of the ceasefire, which has seen continued violence and humanitarian suffering. All sources agree that the process is slow and fraught with tension, reflecting the broader instability in the region.
How we got here
The ceasefire was initiated after Hamas agreed to release all living hostages and return the bodies of deceased captives, in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The process has been slow, with delays attributed to the extensive rubble and ongoing conflict in Gaza. The deal aims to de-escalate two years of conflict following Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and a massive Israeli military response that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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