The fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war was tested Tuesday as the slower-than-hoped return of deceased hostages from Gaza prompted an Israeli military agency to declare a “violation” of the truce agreement that it would respond to by halving the number of trucks allowed to bring humanitarian aid into the devastated territory.
The United Nations’ humanitarian office in Gaza received word of the cuts from the Israeli military agency in charge of transferring aid to the territory, according to spokesperson Olga Cherevko.
US officials and international aid groups were also notified, according to three AP sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The Israeli Government did not immediately comment. A day earlier, Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages in Gaza and Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first phase.
But now attention in Israel has turned to when Hamas will return all the bodies of hostages who died in captivity. While Israeli officials had understood there could be some delay in the recovery effort, the families of hostages and their supporters expressed dismay that only four of the 28 bodies were returned on Monday.
The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organisation representing many of the hostage families, called it a “blatant violation of the agreement by Hamas.” The top official in Israel coordinating the return of hostages and the missing, Gal Hirsch, told the families in a note that pressure was being applied on Hamas through international mediators to expedite the process.
A copy of the note was seen by The Associated Press and its authenticity was confirmed by someone with knowledge of the statement. said the UN continues to encourage all sides “to adhere to the agreements that have been set out in the ceasefire parameters.”
“We certainly very much hope that the bodies of the hostages are handed over and that the ceasefire continues to be implemented,” Cherevko said during a virtual news briefing. US President Donald Trump expressed concern in a social media post that too few of the dead hostages have been returned to Israel. He made no mention in his post of Israel halving the flow of aid into the territory.
Trump said he wants back dead hostages held in Gaza and warned Hamas, “If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.” Under the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces pulled back to where they were in August, before launching their latest offensive on the Gaza City. The pullback leaves several hard-hit Palestinian neighbourhoods under Israeli control, and Israel has warned residents not to try to return to homes there.
