If confirmed, eight Israeli and foreign hostages would still remain unaccounted for in Gaza. Under the first stage of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Hamas agreed to release 20 living and 28 deceased hostages.

Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the return of the bodies, while Hamas claims it is still searching for remains trapped under rubble from previous airstrikes. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said the bodies were discovered along a tunnel route in southern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the families of the hostages had been informed and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to securing the return of every hostage. “Our hearts are with the families during this painful time. The effort will not stop until all are brought home,” his office said.

The exchange comes amid renewed tension, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. On Sunday, a reported Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza killed one man, whom Israel described as a militant posing a threat to its forces.

As part of the truce, Hamas released all remaining living Israeli hostages on 13 October in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israel has also returned 225 Palestinian bodies in exchange for 17 deceased hostages, including two foreigners.

The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 others, has left deep scars on both sides. According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 68,000 people have since been killed during Israel’s military campaign.

Efforts to sustain the fragile ceasefire continue, as families on both sides wait anxiously for closure and peace.

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Witnesses in Gaza described seeing “pillars of fire and smoke” rising over homes and crowded neighborhoods as explosions shook the night sky. Health officials said at least 104 people were killed, including dozens of children and women, and over 250 others were injured.

Entire families were buried beneath the rubble. In Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, rescuers pulled three women and a man from the remains of the al-Banna family home. In Bureij camp, five members of the Abu Sharar family were killed when a strike hit their house. In Khan Younis, relatives wept as they mourned a mother, Bayan al-Shawaf, and her four children who died in a strike on a tent where displaced families had been sleeping.

“What kind of ceasefire is this?” cried Bayan’s cousin, Umm Mohammed. “The children were sleeping — they just wanted to live, to learn.”

Israel’s military said the strikes were a response to what it called “violations of the ceasefire” by Hamas, accusing the group of launching an attack that killed a soldier, identified as Master Sergeant Yona Efraim Feldbaum. The attack reportedly took place near Rafah, when Israeli engineers working to dismantle a tunnel came under fire.

Israeli leaders vowed retaliation, saying Hamas had crossed a “red line.” But Hamas denied involvement, insisting it remained committed to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of trying to provoke renewed fighting.

The United States said it believed the ceasefire would hold, even as it backed Israel’s right to respond to attacks. “Nothing will jeopardize the ceasefire,” said President Trump, while also stating that Israel “should hit back” if its soldiers are targeted.

International voices expressed concern over the mounting death toll. The UN’s human rights chief called the reports of civilian deaths “appalling,” urging all sides not to let the chance for peace slip away.

The ceasefire, brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, was meant to be the first stage of a broader peace plan. Under the agreement, Hamas was to return all hostages — living and deceased — while Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Tensions spiked earlier in the week after Hamas returned a coffin that Israel said did not contain the remains of one of its hostages. Israel called it a “clear violation” of the deal, while Hamas dismissed the accusation as false.

Despite repeated efforts to maintain calm, the violence has reignited fears that Gaza could once again descend into full-scale war. Since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in 2023, more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed, with thousands more injured or displaced.

As Gaza’s people sift through rubble and grief, many are left wondering how long any truce can truly last.

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The Red Cross delivered the coffins to Israeli forces in Gaza before they were transferred to Tel Aviv for formal identification. Authorities have urged the public to remain patient and allow families to be informed first once identification is confirmed.

This brings the total number of deceased Israeli hostages returned by Hamas to 15 out of 28, under the first phase of a U.S.-mediated truce. All 20 living hostages covered in the same deal were released earlier.

Hamas has claimed that locating more bodies has been challenging due to widespread destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes. Under the agreement, Israel also released 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 Gaza detainees, while returning the remains of several Palestinians.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the terms of the deal. The situation continues to test the fragile calm as families on both sides await closure.

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Under the first stage of the peace deal, Hamas was required to return 20 living hostages and the remains of 28 others. So far, all living captives and several bodies have been handed over, but 19 remain missing. Hamas says the devastation across Gaza has made locating the bodies difficult and that special equipment is needed for the search.

US officials have downplayed fears that the ceasefire could collapse, saying that ongoing talks with mediators are “positive” and that Hamas has shown intent to uphold the agreement.

Israel has confirmed that the two bodies returned most recently belong to Sergeant-Major Muhammad al-Atarash, 39, and Inbar Hayman, 27 — the last female hostage known to have been held. Both were killed during the October 7 attacks.

At the Rafah crossing, preparations are underway to allow Palestinians, particularly those who are sick or injured, to leave Gaza for medical care. International monitors are expected to oversee operations, though aid deliveries remain restricted to other crossings.

In Gaza, residents are struggling with rising food prices and shortages as uncertainty grows over whether the ceasefire will last. Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials are working to identify the bodies of 90 Palestinians recently returned by Israel, many of which remain unrecognizable due to the conditions in which they were found.

US advisers say the process of recovering all hostages’ remains could take weeks, given the scale of destruction. They also mentioned discussions about future governance in Gaza, possibly involving a new technocratic administration supported by regional powers.

For many families, both in Israel and Gaza, the ceasefire has brought a painful mix of relief and heartbreak — moments of reunion alongside the grief of those still waiting for closure.

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The Israeli military confirmed that the coffins had crossed the border and were being taken for formal identification. The families of the hostages have been notified, with officials expressing solidarity in their pain and vowing that efforts to bring everyone home — living or deceased — will continue until the last hostage is found.

The returned hostages were identified as Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz. Their families have endured years of uncertainty since the October 2023 attacks that led to their capture.

Across Israel, emotions are raw. Some families who have recently been reunited with their loved ones say they are finally beginning the long road toward healing. “After two years, I can finally breathe,” said one mother whose son returned home. Another wife shared that her husband could finally hear his children call him “father” again — a moment she had promised to fight for since the day he was taken.

But for many, closure remains out of reach. Relatives of those still missing say they cannot move forward until every hostage — living or deceased — is brought home. “We understand it will take time, but we’ll keep fighting for each and every one,” said a family member of one of the missing.

Tensions are growing over the pace of the returns. Some Israeli leaders have called for aid to Gaza to be restricted until all hostages’ remains are returned, while others urge restraint to maintain the fragile ceasefire. Aid deliveries into Gaza have already been reduced amid delays in the handover process.

Meanwhile, families of the freed hostages are trying to rebuild their lives. “We’ve reached the recovery stage,” said one wife of a released captive. “Now, we have to rebuild our family.”

The grief, relief, and determination shared by these families reflect a nation still caught between heartbreak and hope — waiting for the day when every story has an ending, and every loved one is home.

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The protests, which grew into a nationwide strike, began at 6:29 a.m.—the exact time Hamas launched its deadly attack on October 7, 2023. By nightfall, over a million people had joined rallies, blocked major roads, and shut down businesses in solidarity with the families of hostages still held in Gaza.

At the central gathering in Tel Aviv, a newly released video of captive Matan Zangauker was shared, intensifying calls for the government to reach a deal. In the clip, filmed months earlier, Zangauker urged his loved ones and fellow citizens to keep raising their voices. His mother, Einav, later addressed the crowd with an emotional plea, criticizing the government for prolonging the war and failing to bring the hostages home.

Family members of the captives announced an “emergency break” movement, declaring that the country must halt everything until the 50 remaining hostages are released. They insisted that only a comprehensive agreement—ending the war in exchange for the hostages—can end what they called a “nightmare” gripping the nation for nearly two years.

While many businesses, universities, and private companies joined the strike, Israel’s largest labor union stopped short of official participation, though it encouraged employers to let workers take part. Police reported several arrests during roadblocks and demonstrations, but the scale of the protest underscored widespread public support for a hostage deal.

Israel’s president expressed solidarity with hostage families, saying the entire country shares their pain. But government officials were divided. Some ministers called the protests a political stunt, while Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that calls to end the war without defeating Hamas would only embolden the group and risk repeating past attacks.

Despite the criticism, the families vowed to continue their campaign. A new protest site called “Waypoint 50,” symbolizing the hostages still in Gaza, is being set up near the border as pressure mounts on the government to act.

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In a strongly worded open letter, they stated that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel. They believe Trump, given his past influence among many Israelis, could sway Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward halting the war, securing the release of hostages, and ending the humanitarian crisis.

This plea comes at a time when Netanyahu is reportedly planning to escalate military operations in Gaza, despite ongoing ceasefire talks having hit a dead end.

Israel launched its offensive after a deadly attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, more than 60,000 people in Gaza are reported to have died due to the ongoing military campaign, with dozens killed just in the past day alone, according to local health authorities.

The humanitarian toll continues to grow. Dozens have died while trying to access aid, and nearly 200 people—most of them children—are said to have lost their lives due to hunger and malnutrition. Severe restrictions on food and supplies entering Gaza have created conditions some agencies are calling a full-blown famine.

The emotional appeal from former top officials comes shortly after the release of disturbing videos showing visibly malnourished Israeli hostages in Gaza. These images sparked outrage both in Israel and internationally.

Despite this, Netanyahu remains focused on defeating Hamas militarily. Some believe that continuing the war in this way is putting hostages’ lives at greater risk. One group supporting hostage families condemned any new military offensive, warning that it could lead both the country and the captives toward disaster.

Former officials, including past leaders of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and former government ministers, signed the letter. They argue that while the war may have started as a justified defensive response, it has now gone beyond that point. They are urging a shift in strategy toward diplomacy and humanitarian relief.

Their message to Trump was clear: “You helped end a war in Lebanon—now it’s time to do the same in Gaza.”

As international pressure on Israel mounts and public opinion around the world turns more critical, questions remain about whether Trump will act. Despite expressing concern about the situation in Gaza, including acknowledgment of widespread hunger, he has continued to stand by Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, disturbing reports and imagery continue to emerge from Gaza, including the deaths of children, widespread destruction, and rising starvation. The voices calling for a ceasefire are growing louder, both from within Israel and across the globe. Whether those calls will lead to meaningful change remains uncertain.

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According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the campaign, named Operation Gideon’s Chariots, aims to take control of strategic locations across Gaza. The military says the goal is to ensure Hamas is no longer a threat and to secure the safe return of Israeli hostages.

In the past 24 hours alone, Israel reported hitting over 150 Hamas-linked targets. But the human cost is staggering. Gaza’s civil defense, which is run by Hamas, claims that Israeli strikes have killed around 250 people since Thursday. Reuters also reports at least 58 deaths in just one night of air raids, based on figures from local authorities.

As the military offensive intensifies, Israel has imposed a strict aid blockade on Gaza. This comes after a brief two-month ceasefire broke down in March. The situation on the ground is growing more desperate by the day.

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged on Friday that “a lot of people were starving” in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli military, while silent on the operation’s name in English communications, made it clear: their campaign won’t stop until Hamas is neutralized and every hostage is back home.

Thousands of Israeli troops, including reservists, are expected to join the offensive in the coming days. The Times of Israel reports that the military will also attempt to relocate civilians to the southern part of Gaza — a move aid groups say is nearly impossible, given the massive displacement already caused by months of fighting.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently confirmed plans for a more aggressive push into Gaza. However, the full operation was delayed until President Trump wrapped up a Middle East visit, which ended on Friday.

As the tanks line up near the border, fears are growing across the international community. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has condemned the strikes, warning that the destruction, forced evacuations, and humanitarian blockade could amount to ethnic cleansing.

“This latest wave of bombings, along with the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of aid, looks like an attempt to permanently reshape the population of Gaza,” he said.

From inside the crisis zone, voices of distress are growing louder. Dr. Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon working in Khan Younis, told the BBC that her team at Nasser hospital is physically and emotionally exhausted.

“We’ve all lost a lot of weight,” she said. “The children are incredibly thin. Some have lost their teeth. Many have serious burns, and with malnutrition, their bodies just can’t heal.”

A UN-backed report this week warned that Gaza’s population is now facing critical levels of famine. Despite this, Israeli authorities continue to deny that a food shortage exists.

This latest escalation follows the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. According to Gaza’s health ministry — controlled by Hamas — more than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since then.

While faint hopes remain for a renewed ceasefire through indirect talks in Qatar, the outlook is grim as the region braces for more violence.

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