Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Progress: Two More Hostage Bodies Returned as International Aid Efforts Intensify

Israel's military has confirmed that Hamas delivered the remains of two more hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza.

Since the beginning of the ceasefire on October 10, the remains of 13 hostages have been returned to Israel. Following this latest transfer, 13 more hostages' remains still need to be recovered from Gaza.

During his visit to Israel on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance called for "a little bit of patience" amid Israeli frustration regarding Hamas' pace of returning hostages.

"Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are," Vance explained.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased hostage returned.

US Vice President JD Vance and other envoys expressed optimism about Gaza's fragile ceasefire on Tuesday, stating that progress has exceeded expectations as they visited a new center in Israel for civilian and military cooperation.

Vance acknowledged recent violence but remarked that the ceasefire that began on October 10 is proceeding "better than I expected" after two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's Middle East envoy, added that "we are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time."

The delegation is in Israel while questions persist about the long-term peace plan, including whether Hamas will disarm, the timeline and methodology for deploying an international security force to Gaza, and who will govern the territory post-war.

Vance downplayed suggestions that his first vice-presidential visit was urgently arranged to maintain the ceasefire. He expressed confidence that "we're going to be in a place where this peace lasts," but warned that if Hamas fails to cooperate, it will be "obliterated."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and one of the architects of the ceasefire agreement, noted its complexity: "Both sides are transitioning from two years of very intense warfare to now a peacetime posture."

Vance is scheduled to remain in the region until Thursday and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu dismissed his national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, without providing a reason. Israeli media reported that Hanegbi had opposed renewing Israel's Gaza offensive in March and Israel's unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hamas leadership in Qatar in September. In a statement, Hanegbi acknowledged "times of disagreement" with Netanyahu.

Hamas announced it had recovered the remains of two more hostages and planned to hand them over Tuesday evening.

Vance urged patience regarding the slow pace of hostage returns, explaining, "Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are."

When questioned about the ceasefire's next steps, he acknowledged that "a lot of this work is very hard" and stressed the need for flexibility.

"Once we've got to a point where both the Gazans and our Israeli friends can have some measure of security, then we'll worry about what the long-term governance of Gaza is," he said. "Let's focus on security, rebuilding, giving people some food and medicine."

Although approximately 200 US troops were recently deployed to Israel, Vance emphasized that they would not enter Gaza. However, he mentioned that officials are beginning to "conceptualize what that international security force would look like" for the territory.

He identified Turkey and Indonesia as countries expected to participate. The flags of Jordan, Germany, Britain, and Denmark were displayed on the stage where he spoke.

Despite incidents of fighting and mutual accusations of violations, both Israel and Hamas have affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire agreement.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel awaits Hamas's transfer of the bodies of 15 remaining hostages. Thirteen others have already been returned.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for each deceased hostage returned. The ministry reported on Tuesday that Israel had transferred 165 bodies since earlier this month.

International organizations reported scaling up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, while Hamas-led security forces launched efforts against what they described as price gouging by private merchants.

The World Food Program stated it had dispatched over 530 trucks into Gaza in the past 10 days, sufficient to feed nearly half a million people for two weeks. This remains well below the 500 to 600 trucks that entered daily before the war.

The WFP also reported reinstating 26 distribution points and aims to scale up to its previous network of 145 points across Gaza as soon as possible.

Residents reported that prices for essential goods skyrocketed on Sunday after militants killed two Israeli soldiers and Israel responded with strikes that resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties. Israel also threatened to halt humanitarian aid.

At a market in Deir al-Balah, a 25-kilogram (55-pound) package of flour was selling for more than $70 on Sunday, up from approximately $12 shortly after the ceasefire began. By Tuesday, the price had decreased to around $30.

Mohamed al-Faqawi, a Khan Younis resident, accused merchants of exploiting the precarious security situation. "They are exploiting us," he stated.

On Monday, Hamas announced that its security forces had raided shops throughout Gaza, closing some and compelling merchants to reduce prices. Hamas has also facilitated safe passage for aid trucks and prevented looting of deliveries.

Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza's private truckers' union, reported that there had been no theft of aid since the ceasefire commenced.

However, significant challenges persist as Gaza's financial system remains severely damaged. With nearly all bank branches and ATMs inoperative, people must pay excessive commissions to cash brokers to access money for daily expenses.

On Tuesday, dozens of people in Deir al-Balah waited in line for hours at the Bank of Palestine hoping to access their funds but were ultimately turned away.

"Without having the bank open and without money, it does not matter that the prices (in the market) have dropped," said Kamilia Al-Ajez.

A senior health official in Gaza claimed that some Palestinian bodies returned by Israel showed "evidence of torture" and called for a United Nations investigation.

Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, the ministry's general director, stated on social media late Monday that some bodies showed evidence of restraint with ropes and metal shackles, blindfolds, deep wounds, abrasions, burns, and crushed limbs.

It was not immediately clear if any of the bodies were those of prisoners; they are returned without identification or details regarding their deaths. The bodies could include Palestinian detainees who died in Israeli custody or bodies removed from Gaza by Israeli troops during the conflict.

The Israel Prisons Service denied mistreatment of prisoners, stating that it had followed legal procedures and provided medical care and "adequate living conditions."

Israeli hostages released from Gaza have also reported being subjected to metal shackles and harsh conditions, including frequent beatings and starvation.

In the initial 2023 attack on Israel, Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people as hostages.

The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in more than 68,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are generally considered reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed these figures without providing its own casualty count.