Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Gaza war will persist until Hamas is disarmed and the territory demilitarized. Speaking on Israeli Channel 14, he emphasized that the ceasefire’s second phase, involving Hamas’s disarmament, is crucial to ending the conflict. “When that is successfully completed—hopefully easily, but if not, in a hard way—the war will end,” he said.
This statement followed the handover of two hostages’ remains by Hamas’s Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades on Saturday night, under a US-brokered ceasefire deal. The Israeli military confirmed the remains were received by a Red Cross team and are being transferred to security forces. The return of deceased hostages’ bodies remains a key issue, with Israel tying the reopening of the Rafah crossing to their recovery. Netanyahu’s office stated the crossing will remain closed until Hamas fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, which began October 10, 2025. Hamas has released 20 living hostages and nine Israeli and one Nepalese remains, while Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned 135 Palestinian bodies.
Hamas reported difficulties recovering remains buried under Gaza’s rubble, warning that the Rafah closure could delay efforts. Meanwhile, UN humanitarian relief head Tom Fletcher, visiting northern Gaza, described the area as a “wasteland” and outlined a 60-day plan to deliver food, rebuild health services, provide tents, and resume education for children. Despite the truce, violence persists.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported nine Palestinians, including four children, killed by Israeli tank shells targeting a bus. The Israeli military claimed the vehicle approached a restricted “yellow line,” posing a threat, prompting warning shots and subsequent fire. Relatives of the victims, including grandmother Umm Mohammed Shaaban, mourned at Al-Ahli Hospital, questioning the attack.
