Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to maintain maximum pressure on Hamas to locate and return the bodies of hostages still held in Gaza, reaffirming Israel’s determination to continue its fight against terrorism “with full force.”
Speaking at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem on Friday for victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, Netanyahu said his government remained “determined” to recover all remaining hostages’ bodies and prevent any resurgence of terrorism.
“Our fight against terrorism will continue with full force,” Netanyahu said at Mount Herzl National Cemetery. “We will not allow evil to raise its head. We will exact the full price from anyone who harms us.”
His remarks came hours after Hamas returned the bodies of two Israeli hostages — identified as Inbar Hayman and Sgt. Maj. Muhammad al-Atarash — to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City. According to Israeli authorities, this brings the total number of recovered bodies to nine out of 28.
Hamas said it was still searching for the remaining 19 bodies, citing the need for “specialist equipment” to locate them. Israel has accused the group of violating last week’s ceasefire agreement and warned that humanitarian aid to Gaza could be limited until all remains are returned.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli advocacy group, urged the government to suspend the ceasefire until Hamas fulfils its commitments.
Despite growing public anger in Israel, U.S. officials have downplayed suggestions that Hamas breached the truce. Two senior advisers to President Donald Trump said on Thursday that preparations for the next phase of the ceasefire were continuing, adding that the U.S. believes Hamas has “acted in good faith” by cooperating with mediators and sharing information about missing bodies.
The advisers also noted that the widespread destruction across Gaza has complicated recovery efforts, suggesting that financial rewards could be offered to civilians with information about the remains’ locations.
President Trump weighed in on the situation via Truth Social, warning that the U.S. would “have no choice but to go in and kill” if Hamas “continues to kill people,” though he reiterated his opposition to sending American troops into Gaza.
Under the current ceasefire deal, Hamas released 20 living hostages on Monday in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. The agreement also provides for the gradual return of bodies of hostages killed during the war.
A leaked version of the deal published in Israeli media suggests it allows for delays in recovering remains from areas inaccessible due to heavy bombardment.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 67,967 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began — figures the United Nations considers credible.
In Gaza, authorities are working to identify Palestinian bodies returned by Israel as part of ongoing exchanges. Another 30 bodies were handed over on Thursday, bringing the total to 120.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials confirmed that preparations are underway to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, which has remained closed since Israeli forces seized control of the Gaza side in May 2024.
A spokesperson for COGAT — Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinian territories — said the crossing would reopen “for the movement of people only” once coordination with Egypt is finalized, adding that humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom and other Israeli crossings following security checks.
