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Hostages

Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire, Await Return of Deceased Hostages

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The highly anticipated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally been achieved, with the militant group handing over two bodies of deceased hostages to the Red Cross late Saturday night. The move comes as a significant step towards putting an end to the two-year-long war in Gaza. However, the real test lies ahead, as Israel has threatened to keep the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed until further notice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli military has identified the body of a deceased hostage as Ronen Engel, who was killed during the Oct. 7 attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on the Gaza border.
  • Engel's wife, Karina, and two of his three children were kidnapped and released in a ceasefire in November 2023.
  • Israel has threatened to keep the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed "until further notice," with reopening dependent on Hamas fulfilling its ceasefire role of returning the remains of all 28 deceased hostages.
  • Hamas has handed over the remains of 11 identified hostages, while Israel has returned the bodies of 135 Palestinians to Gaza.
  • The ceasefire process includes aid deliveries into Gaza and the devastated territory's future, with the opening of Rafah crossing being a key issue.
  • The Palestinian Authority's Interior Ministry has announced procedures for Palestinians wishing to leave or enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
  • Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government in the territory.
  • Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross.
  • Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the attack on southern Israel that sparked the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
  • Hamas says discussions begin about 2nd phase of ceasefire negotiations which include disarming Hamas and the establishment of an international-backed authority to run the embattled Gaza Strip.
  • The US has accused Hamas of planning an attack against residents of Gaza, which would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Statistics:

  • Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry.
  • Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the attack on southern Israel that sparked the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
  • Hamas has handed over the remains of 11 identified hostages.
  • Israel has returned the bodies of 135 Palestinians to Gaza.
  • Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross.

Sources:

  • Magdy Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman. "Israel identified the body of a deceased hostage Sunday morning, after Hamas handed over two bodies of what the militant group said are deceased hostages to the Red Cross late Saturday night." (2025) The Associated Press.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. "A statement by Netanyahu's office said reopening Rafah would depend on how Hamas fulfills its ceasefire role of returning the remains of all 28 deceased hostages." (2025)
  • Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem. "Government agencies in Gaza continue to perform their duties, as the vacuum is very dangerous, and this will continue until an administrative committee is formed and agreed upon by all Palestinian factions," he said. (2025)
  • U.S. State Department. "This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts," it said in a statement. (2025)

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