GAZA / TEL AVIV – Tensions Flare as Aid and Ceasefire Deal Hang in the Balance
Hamas handed over more bodies of deceased Israeli hostages to Israel on Tuesday, marking limited progress amid rising tensions following Israel’s decision to halve humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.
The development comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a controversial plan to end the two-year Gaza war, which began with the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), four coffins containing the bodies of Israeli hostages were received from the Red Cross at a handover point in northern Gaza shortly before midnight. The remains were then transported into Israel for forensic identification.
“At this moment, the men are continuing to oversee the implementation of what was agreed upon regarding the handover of bodies as part of the agreement to end the war in Gaza,”
said Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem in a statement posted on Facebook.
Israel Reduces Aid to Gaza Over “Ceasefire Violations”
Israeli officials confirmed that only half the agreed number of humanitarian aid trucks would be allowed to enter Gaza beginning Wednesday, accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire by failing to hand over all the remaining hostage bodies as stipulated in last week’s truce deal.
Israel also postponed the reopening of the southern border crossing to Egypt, delaying plans to evacuate wounded Gazans for medical treatment.
The decision deepens a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine conditions have already gripped more than 500,000 Palestinians after months of bombardment. Aid groups say roughly 600 trucks per day are needed to stabilize food and medical supplies in the enclave.
Trump Threatens Military Action Against Hamas
The fragile ceasefire appeared further strained after President Trump warned that the U.S. would use military force if Hamas did not surrender its weapons.
“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them — and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently,” Trump said during remarks at the White House, one day after addressing Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem.
Trump’s comments followed his declaration of the “historic dawn of a new Middle East”, as Israel and Hamas completed a major prisoner exchange involving 20 living Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
However, the fate of 28 deceased hostages has remained one of the final sticking points in the ceasefire implementation. So far, eight bodies have been returned to Israel, leaving at least 19 still unaccounted for in Gaza.
Hamas Reasserts Control in Gaza
In a show of defiance, Hamas has redeployed hundreds of armed security personnel throughout Gaza, signaling its resurgence and control over the territory. The group has also carried out public executions of individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, further heightening tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the war will not end until Hamas completely disarms and cedes control of Gaza — terms the militant group has rejected outright.
Uncertain Future for Peace Efforts
With aid restrictions, renewed threats, and escalating rhetoric, Trump’s much-touted peace plan faces mounting obstacles. Diplomats warn that unless the hostage and aid issues are resolved quickly, the ceasefire could collapse entirely.
For now, both sides appear locked in a cycle of limited cooperation and deep mistrust, as Gaza’s humanitarian situation worsens and hopes for a lasting peace fade.
