
Gaza Ceasefire Hangs in Balance: Hostage Returns and Humanitarian Aid at Stake
Hostage bodies lost in dust
Trump's warning echoes
In a tense diplomatic landscape, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel remains precarious, with significant challenges threatening the sustainability of the agreement. Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to the deal, even as delays in returning hostages' bodies and limited humanitarian aid raise international concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, indicating he would authorize Israel to resume military operations if Hamas fails to fully comply with the ceasefire terms [1][2]. The militant group claims that some hostage bodies are buried in tunnels destroyed by Israeli strikes, necessitating heavy machinery for retrieval.
Humanitarian access remains severely restricted, with only 339 aid trucks entering Gaza since the ceasefire began. Hamas has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance on aid, accusing him of attempting to 'manipulate humanitarian needs for political gains' [3][4].
The original ceasefire plan, brokered by Trump with Arab leadership mediation, called for complete hostage returns by a deadline that has now passed. Hamas maintains they are working to fulfill the agreement, but international skepticism remains high.
"We will disarm them," Trump stated at the White House, referencing conversations with Hamas leadership about the next steps in the peace process [7]. The statement underscores the fragile nature of the current diplomatic arrangement.