KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — In a move likely to heighten tensions, Israel has announced it will not retreat from a significant area in the Gaza Strip as required by a ceasefire agreement, an official stated on Thursday. This decision could lead to conflicts with Hamas and principal negotiator Egypt amidst the delicate ceasefire situation.
Earlier, Hamas had transferred the remains of four hostages in return for the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, concluding the initial phase of the ceasefire, which is set to end this weekend. Talks for the second and more complex phase have not yet commenced.
A source, who asked not to be identified as per protocol, mentioned that Israeli forces must stay at the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border to halt the smuggling of weapons. Defense Minister Israel Katz, during a meeting with local officials, reported discovering tunnels under the border on his latest trip to the corridor, though he did not provide evidence or details about Israel’s intentions. Egypt maintains it demolished these smuggling routes on its side in past years and has established a military buffer to prevent smuggling activities.
In response, Hamas warned that any Israeli efforts to uphold a buffer zone in the corridor would breach the ceasefire accord. Hamas previously emphasized that adherence to the agreement is crucial for Israel to guarantee the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Israel is expected to start withdrawing from the corridor by Saturday, marking the cessation of the first phase, with completion marked for eight days later. Egypt has yet to comment, although it objects to any Israeli presence on the Gaza side of its boundary.
Upcoming diplomatic engagements could play a crucial role, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to visit the region shortly.
In a tragic revelation, the remains handed over on Thursday were identified as belonging to Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan, as verified by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Mantzur, 85, was killed during Hamas’ assault on October 7, 2023. His body was taken into the region, while Israel noted the others were killed while in captivity.
“We grieve over the somber news,” stated Israeli President Isaac Herzog, acknowledging some comfort in the respectful return of the deceased. France’s President Emmanuel Macron extended sympathy to Yahalomi’s family, acknowledging his French citizenship.
Hamas declared that over 600 prisoners were released the same night, many were previously detained post the October 7 incident without formal charges. Jubilant scenes unfolded as released prisoners were warmly greeted on disembarking buses in Khan Younis and amidst enthusiastic crowds in Beitunia in the West Bank. Prisons issued garments with adversarial messages to the detainees, which many discarded or burned in defiance.
Israel momentarily postponed prisoner release due to Hamas publicizing hostage displays during their prior liberation, which Israel, along with Red Cross and U.N. officials, criticized as degrading. This time, Hamas handed over four bodies to the Red Cross discreetly.
The released individuals included 445 men, 21 teenagers, and one woman, as per Palestinian official records, although age details were omitted. Only approximately 50 prisoners were freed to the West Bank and east Jerusalem, while others convicted of fatal attacks were exiled.
The current handover marks the conclusion of the ceasefire’s initial six-week term expected by this weekend, which has seen 33 captives, among them eight bodies, returned by Hamas. This exchange was conducted for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Trump’s envoy, Witkoff, has expressed the intent to see negotiations advance to a second phase, initially planned to begin in early February.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed to recuperating all captive individuals and dismantling Hamas’ operational and governmental functions. This objective receives support from the Trump administration. However, the feasibility of dismantling Hamas without renewing hostilities remains uncertain, as does Hamas’ potential decision to free remaining hostages without establishing a durable ceasefire.
The ceasefire, achieved through U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediation, concluded 15 months of warfare that stemmed from Hamas’s 2023 attack in southern Israel, claiming around 1,200 lives and resulting in 250 individuals being taken hostage. If the identities of the four bodies are confirmed, 59 captives remain in Gaza, with 32 presumed deceased. Nearly 150 have been liberated through ceasefire deals or similar arrangements, while Israeli forces have recovered numerous bodies, and eight captives have been rescued alive.
The military conflict has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian fatalities, as recorded by Palestinian health officials, with a substantial number stated to be women and children, though there is no distinction made between civilian and militant deaths. The hostilities have displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants and severely crippled the region’s infrastructure and medical facilities.
