Hamas handed over more bodies of deceased Israeli hostages to Israel on Tuesday, shortly after Israel announced plans to halve humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza in retaliation for alleged ceasefire violations.
The Israeli military confirmed receiving four coffins from the Red Cross at a meeting point in northern Gaza. The remains were taken to Israel for forensic identification. Hamas also acknowledged the transfer, saying it was part of the ongoing agreement to end the two-year-long war.
So far, Hamas has returned eight coffins, leaving 19 hostages presumed dead and one still unaccounted for in Gaza. The exchange follows the handover of 20 living Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners earlier this week.
Israel slashes aid deliveries to Gaza
In a retaliatory move, Israel said it would cut the number of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza by half, accusing Hamas of failing to uphold its commitments. The Gaza Strip, already devastated by Israel’s two-year military campaign, faces worsening famine conditions.
More than 600 aid trucks were expected to enter daily during the ceasefire, but officials warned that the reduction could further strain the enclave, where over half a million Palestinians face acute food shortages.
Trump threatens military action against Hamas
The latest developments come amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed push for a permanent peace plan in the Middle East. Speaking at the White House, Trump warned Hamas to disarm or face military strikes.
“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them — quickly and perhaps violently,” Trump said, following his address to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday.
Despite the truce, Hamas has visibly re-emerged in Gaza’s streets, deploying hundreds of security personnel to enforce order. Witnesses said fighters executed several alleged Israeli collaborators in public squares, signaling a return of the group’s authority.
A Hamas spokesperson confirmed the executions were part of their crackdown on “collaborators, armed looters, and drug dealers.” Palestinian security sources said dozens had died in clashes between Hamas and rival factions since Israeli troops pulled back.
The ceasefire, which ended more than two years of warfare sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks, remains fragile. Gaza’s health authorities said Israeli drones and airstrikes killed at least six people on Tuesday despite the truce.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, while the Israeli military said it targeted individuals who crossed truce lines and ignored warnings to retreat.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The war has left much of Gaza in ruins. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, with thousands more missing under the rubble. Civil Defence teams say 250 bodies have been recovered since the truce began.
Plans to open the Rafah crossing into Egypt for medical evacuations remain stalled. Meanwhile, aid agencies warn that food and medical shortages are reaching catastrophic levels.
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