On Monday, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of four others who died during captivity. Israel’s Defense Minister said Hamas’s failure to release more deceased hostages was a violation of the agreement.
On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel agreed to a hostage exchange and ceasefire under a framework proposed by President Donald Trump. The truce took effect on Friday, and the initial hostage exchange occurred on Monday.
Trump traveled to Israel to greet the hostages after they were returned to Israel after two years of captivity in Gaza. The agreement called for Hamas to release all the captives, living and dead, at the beginning of the ceasefire. However, Hamas said it would take time to recover the bodies of some of the dead hostages.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Hamas only releasing four bodies was a violation of the pact. The urgent mission to which we are all committed now is to ensure the return of all the abducted bodies home,” he wrote on X. “Hamas’s announcement about the expected return of 4 bodies today is a failure to meet commitments.”
Katz added, “Any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a gross violation of the agreement and will be responded to accordingly.”
המשימה הדחופה שכולנו מחויבים לה כעת היא לוודא את החזרת כל החטופים החללים הביתה.
הודעת חמאס על החזרה צפויה של 4 גופות היום היא אי עמידה בהתחייבויות.
כל עיכוב או הימנעות מכוונת ייחשבו כהפרה בוטה של ההסכם וייענו בהתאם.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 13, 2025
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Tel Aviv was putting pressure on Hamas to produce more bodies. “We have been informed that later today, approximately four fallen hostages will be returned. Even at this hour, efforts are being made at all levels to exert pressure for the continuation of the process to return the bodies of the fallen,” he explained.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which has pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire and hostage exchange, called for a severe response.
“The violation of the agreement by Hamas must be met with a very severe response from the government and the mediators,” the forum said. “An agreement must be respected by both sides, if Hamas does not fulfill its part, Israel should not fulfill its part either.”
