Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
As a fragile ceasefire continues to hold in Gaza, Israel announced on Saturday that it has received the body of one of its hostages and issued a stern warning to Hamas, urging full compliance with the 20-point ceasefire plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Israeli officials emphasized that “time is running out” for Hamas to meet its obligations under the agreement.
According to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel remains committed to the terms of the U.S.-backed ceasefire deal, insisting it has upheld its side of the agreement. However, the statement expressed growing frustration over what it called Hamas’s “failure to fulfill basic terms,” including the release of all hostages.
The body received was identified as Eliahu Margalit, a 75-year-old resident of the Nir Oz settlement, one of the Israeli communities near the Gaza border that suffered severe losses during the October 7 attacks.
Netanyahu’s Office: “Hamas Knows Where the Bodies Are”
“Hamas is aware of the locations of our hostages’ remains and is deliberately withholding that information,” said the statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office. It reiterated that under the current deal, Hamas is required to disarm a demand Israel says is non-negotiable.
“The agreement clearly stipulates the complete disarmament of Hamas, no conditions, no exceptions,” the statement added. “Hamas must adhere to all 20 points of the plan. Time is running out.”
Trump Envoy to Visit Region Amid Tensions
Amid these developments, Axios reported that Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s special envoy for the Middle East, is expected to visit the region on Sunday to assess progress on the ceasefire’s implementation. The U.S.-led plan has the backing of key regional actors, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
While the White House has not commented directly on the disarmament issue, a spokesperson referred journalists to recent remarks made by Donald Trump on Thursday. “We have their commitment,” Trump said, referring to Hamas. “I believe they will fulfill it,” he added, noting that the group has already returned several bodies of Israeli hostages. He did not address Hamas’s future role in Gaza or whether it will retain its military capabilities.
Hamas: Disarmament Is a Collective Decision
In a separate interview with Reuters, senior Hamas official Mohammad Nazzal declined to provide a definitive answer regarding the group’s willingness to disarm.
“I cannot answer with a simple yes or no,” Nazzal said. “It depends on the nature of the broader political project.” He emphasized that the issue of disarmament is not exclusive to Hamas but also concerns other Palestinian armed factions. “What does disarmament mean? To whom would the weapons be handed over? And why?” he asked, suggesting that any final decision would require a broader Palestinian consensus.
Red Cross Transfers More Palestinian Bodies
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the delivery of a fourth batch of Palestinian bodies to Gaza authorities. These remains are believed to belong to individuals killed in previous Israeli military operations in the enclave. The transfer is part of ongoing humanitarian efforts tied to the ceasefire deal, which also includes prisoner exchanges and the gradual delivery of aid to Gaza’s devastated population.
Regional Stakes Remain High
The standoff over disarmament and the fate of remaining hostages could determine the durability of the ceasefire. While Israel is calling for full implementation of the Trump plan including Hamas’s complete demilitarization Palestinian factions argue that such demands require broader national dialogue and consensus.
With the Trump envoy heading to the region and tensions simmering on both sides, international mediators are racing against the clock to solidify the ceasefire and prevent a renewed cycle of violence.
