A Tragic Demand That Risks Peace
The return of remains is not just a secondary item in the negotiations; for the Israeli government and the families of the missing, it is a non-negotiable core of the deal. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum and Israel’s Defense Minister have both suggested that the entire peace process should be shelved until Hamas complies.
This stance has immediate consequences, notably on the critical flow of aid. Israel appears to be limiting the humanitarian aid entering Gaza—despite U.S.-brokered terms calling for “full aid”—in response to Hamas’s delay in handing over the 21 sets of remains still believed to be in the territory. While aid does trickle in through crossings like Kerem Shalom, the promised 600 trucks per day have not materialized, leaving countless Gazans in dire need and further straining the already fragile Israel-Hamas peace deal.
The Grim Reality of the Search
Why the delay from Hamas? The reason is tragically complex. Many of the Hamas commanders responsible for overseeing the burials of deceased hostages were killed during the conflict. This means the critical knowledge of where those remains lie is often lost.
Adding to the complexity is the sheer destruction within Gaza. With over 90% of buildings damaged or destroyed, the missing remains of Israeli hostages may be buried deep within the rubble. This is a challenge faced by thousands of Gazans as well, with an estimated 11,000 citizens also unaccounted for. First responders are grappling with a “gargantuan task,” often forced to dig with rudimentary tools as they search for loved ones and, likely, the deceased Israeli hostages.
As former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin noted, it is possible that some of the deceased hostages may never be found—a devastating reality that must be addressed if the Israel-Hamas peace deal is to survive. U.S. and Egyptian officials are now attempting to intervene and work with Hamas on the ground to quickly resolve this painful search.
The Power Vacuum Undermining the Truce
Beyond the immediate crisis of the remains, the long-term viability of the Israel-Hamas peace deal is also being challenged by political instability. President Trump’s 20-point plan calls for a U.S.-led interim governing body to administer Gaza before handing over control to the Palestinians. However, that body has not yet been established.
In the vacuum, Hamas has begun to reassert its power. Armed militants have been seen back on the streets of Gaza, and there are verified reports of Hamas executing collaborators and attacking rival armed groups. While President Trump has minimized some of these actions, the U.S. military command (CENTCOM), led by Adm. Brad Cooper, has strongly urged Hamas to immediately “suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians.” Cooper stressed the need for Hamas to seize this “historic opportunity for peace” by fully standing down and disarming.
The coming weeks will be critical. The successful return of the deceased remains is not just a humanitarian issue but the ultimate test of Hamas’s commitment to the truce. Failure to resolve this issue quickly could easily lead to the collapse of the entire Israel-Hamas peace deal, plunging the region back into uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the main issue currently threatening the Israel-Hamas peace deal?
The core issue is Hamas’s delay in returning the remains of the 21 deceased Israeli hostages still believed to be in Gaza. Israeli officials have made the full return of all remains a prerequisite for the peace agreement to proceed.
Q: Why is humanitarian aid being restricted in Gaza?
Israel has been restricting the promised full flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, primarily through the Rafah Crossing, in response to what it views as Hamas’s failure to fully comply with the terms regarding the return of the deceased hostages.
Q: Why is it difficult for Hamas to locate and return all the remains?
According to reports, many of the Hamas commanders who were responsible for the burials of the deceased hostages were killed, meaning the location of the remains has been lost. Additionally, the vast destruction in Gaza makes any search effort extremely difficult.
Q: Who is intervening to try and resolve the situation on the ground?
The U.S. and Egyptian officials are actively involved. The U.S. Senior Envoy is working to enforce the peace, and Egyptian teams have reportedly entered Gaza to work with Hamas on the search for the bodies.
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