Hamas continue hostage search amid Gaza ceasefire breakdown

Hamas has claimed they are struggling to locate the remains of Israeli hostages in order to meet its side of a brokered ceasefire deal, Middle East Eye and agencies reported on October 21st.

Despite Hamas and Israel reaching a ceasefire on October 10th, political stability has remained incredibly unsteady in Gaza.

On one hand, Israel has been blocking the humanitarian aid crossings and preventing food, water and medical supplies from reaching Palestinians who have been ravaged with poverty, malnutrition and long-term injury by the conflict. Furthermore, Israeli military forces have also enacted violence in Gaza on Palestinians which has been a clear violation of ceasefire terms, with lethal airstrikes resuming in Gaza, killing 45.

Despite the UN urging Israel to not block these aid crossings and arguing that withholding aid from civilians cannot be used as a bargaining chip with Hamas, Israel has claimed that these actions have been a response to Hamas’ violations of the ceasefire deal. Hamas reportedly failed to return the bodies of all 28 dead hostages by October 13th.

The escalating struggles for both sides to reach a long-term ceasefire exists alongside a continuing thread of failed ceasefire negotiations, with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing Israel will continue its assault on Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Hamas had commented on its failure to return all the bodies as within the agreements of the ceasefire negotiations. Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, claimed they are still serious about locating the remains of all the Israeli hostages, despite the current conditions in Gaza.

“We are finding it extremely difficult to retrieve the bodies, but we continue our efforts with confidence and determination to implement the ceasefire agreement,” Al-Hayya continued. He proceeded to emphasise the importance of Israel not disrupting the flow of aid through crossings, as Gaza reaches heightened levels of humanitarian needs.

Middle East Eye and agencies, Maghrebi.org