US Denies Claims of Hamas Ceasefire Violation over Hostage Returns
The US government asserts that Hamas is not violating its ceasefire agreement with Israel regarding the return of dead hostages.
LONDON: The United States has refuted allegations that Hamas is breaching the current ceasefire agreement with Israel by neglecting to repatriate all deceased hostages.
According to a BBC report from October 16, 2025, this claim stems from Hamas's handling of the remains of 28 dead hostages it currently holds.
Hamas has already repatriated nine of these bodies and claims that the remaining corpses are buried deeply beneath rubble, necessitating specialized equipment for extraction.
The organization maintains that efforts to recover these individuals continue unabated.
Despite the delayed return of the hostage bodies, two senior advisors to President Donald Trump insist that plans to demilitarize Gaza and establish a transitional government remain on track.
These officials assert that the US government does not believe Hamas is violating the ceasefire terms.
In response to Hamas's incomplete compliance with the agreement concerning the deceased hostages, Israel has opted to restrict the flow of pledged humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The extensive devastation in the Palestinian enclave may prolong the recovery efforts for all slain hostages, as per one of the US advisors.
The first phase of the ceasefire brokered by the United States mandates Hamas to return all 28 dead hostages.
In response, Hamas's armed wing has acknowledged that extracting the remaining bodies requires substantial resources and specialized equipment.
The group vows to intensify its efforts to bring this matter to a resolution.
Reacting to these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has advised the country’s military to prepare for potential action should Hamas fail to implement the ceasefire agreement as agreed upon.
As part of the negotiation, Israel has agreed to release the bodies of 15 slain Palestinians in exchange for each dead Israeli hostage.
According to a BBC report from October 16, 2025, this claim stems from Hamas's handling of the remains of 28 dead hostages it currently holds.
Hamas has already repatriated nine of these bodies and claims that the remaining corpses are buried deeply beneath rubble, necessitating specialized equipment for extraction.
The organization maintains that efforts to recover these individuals continue unabated.
Despite the delayed return of the hostage bodies, two senior advisors to President Donald Trump insist that plans to demilitarize Gaza and establish a transitional government remain on track.
These officials assert that the US government does not believe Hamas is violating the ceasefire terms.
In response to Hamas's incomplete compliance with the agreement concerning the deceased hostages, Israel has opted to restrict the flow of pledged humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The extensive devastation in the Palestinian enclave may prolong the recovery efforts for all slain hostages, as per one of the US advisors.
The first phase of the ceasefire brokered by the United States mandates Hamas to return all 28 dead hostages.
In response, Hamas's armed wing has acknowledged that extracting the remaining bodies requires substantial resources and specialized equipment.
The group vows to intensify its efforts to bring this matter to a resolution.
Reacting to these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has advised the country’s military to prepare for potential action should Hamas fail to implement the ceasefire agreement as agreed upon.
As part of the negotiation, Israel has agreed to release the bodies of 15 slain Palestinians in exchange for each dead Israeli hostage.
