This morning, the Red Cross took possession of the remains of two additional hostages held by Hamas, shortly after the Israeli military reported a case of mistaken identity regarding a previously returned body. The initial error has added another layer of tension to the already delicate ceasefire that has temporarily halted the ongoing two-year conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross had received the new remains, which were set to be handed over to Israeli forces operating in Gaza. Meanwhile, two hostages whose bodies were recently released from Gaza are scheduled for burial today.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem communicated via Telegram that the group remains committed to returning the bodies of hostages as per the agreed terms. However, Kassem also leveled accusations against Israel, alleging that they breached the agreement with incidents of gunfire in eastern Gaza City and Rafah on Tuesday.
Two hostages whose bodies were released from Gaza were being buried Wednesday.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem said on the Telegram messaging app that the group was working to return the bodies of the hostages as agreed.
Kassem also accused Israel of violating the deal with shootings Tuesday in eastern Gaza City and the southern city of Rafah.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the military is operating along the deployment lines troops withdrew to under the deal, and he warned that anyone approaching the lines will be targeted, as happened Tuesday with several militants.
The World Food Program said its trucks began arriving in Gaza after the entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza was paused for two days due to the exchange on Monday and a Jewish holiday Tuesday.
The timing of the scaled-up deliveries – which are part of the ceasefire deal – had been called into question after Israel said Tuesday that it would cut the number of trucks allowed into Gaza, saying Hamas was too slow to return the hostages’ bodies.
Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the World Food Program, lauded the trucks’ passage but said the situation remained unpredictable.
“We’re hopeful that access will improve in the coming days,” she said.
The Egyptian Red Crescent said 400 trucks carrying food, fuel and medical supplies were bound for Gaza on Wednesday.
COGAT declined to comment on the number of trucks expected to enter Gaza on Wednesday.
“Throughout this crisis, we have insisted that withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said in a statement.
