Hamas has handed over another dead hostage to Israel—the 13th since the ceasefire agreement. However, the agreement remains fragile, with more shots fired. Meanwhile, Israel has allowed aid shipments into the Gaza Strip again.
The radical Islamic terrorist organization Hamas has handed over the remains of another hostage to the Israeli army. The hostage's coffin was first handed over to the Red Cross and then taken to the Tel Aviv Forensic Institute.
Hamas announced that the body was"dug up yesterday." According to the ceasefire agreement for Gaza, the terrorists should have handed over all 28 dead hostages to Israel long ago – but so far only 13 have been handed over.
Israel's army shoots at Palestinians
The ceasefire also appears to be holding. Citing a medical center, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that two people were killed by Israeli shelling in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.
The Israeli military reported that in the neighboring neighborhood of Shejaiya, Palestinians twice entered army-controlled territory and crossed the"yellow line," behind which the military withdrew as part of the ceasefire. Because the Palestinians posed a threat to the soldiers, they were fired upon—the army referred to them as"terrorists" in both cases. The military did not provide any information on possible casualties. It was also initially unclear whether either of the two incidents was related to the report described by Wafa.
Trump threatens Hamas with destruction
US President Donald Trump threatened Hamas with annihilation after repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement. If the terrorist militia doesn't"behave," he said,"they will be wiped out." However, he gave the Palestinian organization a"small chance" to adhere to the agreement.
Trump said he suspected rebels within the terrorist organization."I don't think it was the leadership," he said, but there was a rebellion among them and many people were killed.
The German government called on Hamas and Israel to adhere to their commitments under the peace plan. The"temporary breach of the ceasefire" was "noted with concern," said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius. They expected all parties to fulfill their obligations. The ceasefire must hold, Kornelius said. At the same time, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip must be improved.
Israel allows aid deliveries again
Israel had suspended aid deliveries to the coastal region in light of the fragile ceasefire, but is now allowing humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip through several crossings. Several news agencies reported this, citing security sources.
Nine southern EU countries demanded the"immediate release of all aid" for the coastal strip."There is absolutely no reason for anyone to block this humanitarian aid," said Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob at a press conference of the group known as MED9. The group expects the Israeli government to open the Rafah border crossing and other border crossings to aid deliveries.
According to Welthungerhilfe, the situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic. The organization's emergency aid expert, Marvin Fürderer, told WDR that the ceasefire had provided a brief respite. But the weekend revealed how fragile this calm is. More than two million people in the coastal region are dependent on humanitarian aid – and famine continues to rage in some areas.
