WNAM MONITORING: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed developments regarding the return of the bodies of Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza with US President Donald Trump during a phone call late Thursday, according to local media.
The conversation focused on “the pace of returning the bodies of the captives killed in Gaza,” the Israel Hayom daily reported.
Since Monday, the Palestinian group has released 20 Israeli captives alive and handed over the remains of 10 out of 28 deceased hostages, saying it needs special equipment to retrieve the remaining 18 bodies trapped under rubble.
Israel, however, claimed that one of the bodies it received did not match any of the captives’ identities.
As part of the prisoner exchange, Israel released 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,718 others detained from Gaza after Oct. 8, 2023. More than 10,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons.
According to the newspaper, Netanyahu briefed Trump on Israel’s planned response to what Tel Aviv described as “delays by Hamas” in implementing the deal. Trump reportedly reaffirmed his “full support” for Israel’s measures, saying the US “stands by its right to defend itself.”
Earlier Thursday, families of Israeli captives urged the government to suspend further phases of the exchange and ceasefire agreement until the remaining bodies are retrieved.
Israeli officials said negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire had not yet begun, despite Trump’s earlier statement that talks were underway. Hamas maintained that it was making “serious efforts” to conclude the file but required technical means to locate and recover the remaining remains.
The prisoner exchange and truce, in effect since Oct. 10, are based on a plan proposed by the US president.
