The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to face strain as the bodies of seven deceased Israeli hostages have been returned from Gaza, with at least 20 still believed to remain in the enclave. Israeli authorities have accused Hamas of failing to meet its commitments under the truce and warned that humanitarian aid will not be permitted to enter Gaza at full capacity until the issue is resolved.
Officials expect four additional bodies to be handed over later today, but both Hamas and the Red Cross have suggested that the level of destruction in Gaza may make it impossible to locate every missing person. The United Nations estimates that around 92% of buildings in Gaza City have been damaged or destroyed, leaving streets, homes, and hospitals in ruins after two years of war.
Despite the ceasefire, conditions on the ground remain dire. Thousands of Palestinians have begun returning north to Gaza City from the south, hauling their belongings through shattered neighborhoods and crowded makeshift markets. Residents say some traders have started hoarding supplies to increase prices, while many continue to wait for desperately needed aid to pass through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Inside southern Gaza, hospitals are overwhelmed as families search for missing relatives. Outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Rasmieh Mohammad Khalil Qdeih has been waiting for news of her son since the war began. “I don’t know whether he was imprisoned or martyred,” she said. “Every time prisoners are released, I ask if they have seen Fadi or Mo’taz, but no one knows anything.”
Meanwhile, Gaza health officials are working to identify the bodies of 45 deceased Palestinians returned by Israel earlier this week. Dr. Mohammad Zaqout, director of hospitals in Gaza, said the process has been slow, with teams still waiting for official confirmation of names. “If we receive the names from the occupation, we will publish them,” he said, noting that families may need to identify their loved ones using photos.