Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: Current Status of Remaining Hostages in Gaza and Path to Peace

Trump has stated that all hostages, both alive and deceased, will be returned by Monday.

New Delhi:

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire deal, mediated by US President Donald Trump and other countries in the region. This comes two years after Benjamin Netanyahu initiated what many consider the most devastating bombardment of the 21st century on the 365 square kilometer Gaza Strip.

The ceasefire and hostage agreement could potentially establish lasting peace in the region and facilitate the reconstruction of Palestinian territory.

The current location of the remaining hostages is a critical concern. President Trump's ceasefire proposal, announced last month, requires the release of all Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—within 72 hours of Israel accepting the terms. While some hostages were previously released through exchanges or rescued during Israeli operations, others have died in captivity, with their bodies subsequently returned. Israeli authorities report approximately 20 hostages remain alive in Gaza, alongside the remains of roughly 25 others.

According to Trump's plan, Israel would free 250 prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023. The agreement further stipulates that for each Israeli hostage returned, Israel would release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

Following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Trump claimed that all hostages, whether alive or dead, would be returned by Monday.

Videos released by Hamas have shown captives in frail and emaciated conditions, raising serious concerns about their survival prospects, according to The New York Times. Hamas officials have indicated that returning the bodies of deceased hostages will require time as they must first be recovered from burial locations.

Many hostages captured on October 7 have already been freed in prisoner exchanges during two earlier ceasefires. At least eight others were liberated through Israeli military operations. New York Times investigations suggest more than three dozen hostages died while in captivity.

Some hostages were executed as Israeli forces approached, others perished in Israeli airstrikes, and a few died in crossfire or were mistakenly targeted by Israeli soldiers. The circumstances surrounding several hostage deaths remain undetermined.

Hamas may be unable to locate and return all remaining deceased hostages in Gaza, a situation that could complicate ceasefire negotiations, according to three Israeli sources who spoke to CNN.

This assessment is based on Israeli intelligence, communications from Hamas, and updates from mediators during ongoing talks.

Israel has consistently demanded the return of all hostages, both living and deceased, as a precondition for ending the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet have reportedly been aware for months that Hamas may not know the whereabouts of some deceased hostages. The US government is also cognizant that some hostages were held by Gaza factions not fully under Hamas's control.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked a music festival in southern Israel, taking approximately 250 people hostage. Since then, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 67,200 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.