Israel will resume military actions in the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian group Hamas does not comply with the conditions of the U.S.-backed ceasefire, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday, according to LETA citing AFP.
Katz's office made this statement after Hamas on Wednesday handed over the remains of two more deceased hostages and reported that without specialized equipment, it could not find and retrieve the bodies of the others trapped under the rubble in Gaza.
According to the ceasefire agreement reached with the mediation of U.S. President Donald Trump, Hamas initially released all 20 remaining live hostages in exchange for nearly 2000 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is also obligated to hand over the remains of 28 known deceased hostages to Israel. So far, the remains of nine hostages have been transferred, as well as one set of remains that does not belong to any of them.
In exchange, Israel has handed over the remains of 90 Palestinians to Hamas. According to Trump's peace plan, Israel is to transfer 15 bodies of Palestinians for each deceased hostage.
"If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel, in coordination with the U.S., will resume military actions and take measures to completely defeat Hamas in order to change the reality in Gaza and achieve all military objectives," the statement from Katz's office said.
In Israel, pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to link humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip with the return of the bodies of all hostages.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to suspend aid supplies if Hamas does not return the remains of its soldiers.
