Hamas claims Israeli plans would violate ceasefire deal

The Gaza-based terrorist group on Thursday said that maintaining an Israeli anti-smuggling zone near the Egyptian border would violate the ceasefire agreement. Hamas’ statement came after reports that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested Israel might keep the buffer zone in place instead of withdrawing from the area per the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

How has the ceasefire agreement been going? Israel on Thursday received four bodies of deceased hostages from Hamas. Israel was set to hand over roughly 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies, the Times of Israel reported. This is the last exchange scheduled for the initial phase of the ceasefire, the outlet reported.

After the release of the four hostages, 59 hostages remain in captivity. They have been there for more than 500 days, the hostage advocacy group Bring Them Home Now said.

Who were the deceased hostages?

• Itzhak Elgarat, 69, was on the phone with his brother when Hamas militants abducted him on Oct. 7, 2023, Bring Them Home Now said. He is survived by two children, the group added.

• Shlomo Asad Mantzur, 85, was thought to be the oldest hostage in Gaza before Israeli officials declared him to be dead earlier this month, according to the Times of Israel. He immigrated to Israel in 1951, Bring Them Home Now said.

• Ohad Yahalomi, 50, was abducted by Hamas militants while he was defending his home and family during the Oct. 7 attack, Bring Them Home Now said. A father of three children, he worked for Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority. His wife and children survive, according to the Times of Israel.

• Tsachi Idan, 50, was a tech worker before his abduction. Hamas militants murdered his daughter in the attack. Bring Them Home Now described him as a humble man who was ready to lend a helping hand to anyone.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about a mix-up the last time Hamas returned dead hostages’ bodies to Israel and Netanyahu’s response.