Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to secure the return of all remaining hostages and the bodies of those still missing in Gaza, declaring that “the fight is not over yet.”
His remarks came during a state ceremony marking the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that ignited the devastating two-year war between Israel and the militant group.
Under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire led by President Donald Trump, Hamas recently released the final 20 surviving hostages and handed over what it said were the recoverable remains of deceased captives.
The fragile truce has brought an end—at least for now—to relentless bombardments and a humanitarian catastrophe that engulfed Gaza and tormented the families of those abducted.
However, the remains of 19 hostages are still unaccounted for. Hamas claims that several bodies are buried deep beneath Gaza’s ruins and that specialized recovery equipment is required to retrieve them.
“The fight is not over yet, but one thing is clear — whoever lays a hand on us knows they will pay a very heavy price,”
— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of captives, has urged the government to suspend the next stages of the ceasefire deal until Hamas fully complies with its commitment to return all remains.
“As long as Hamas breaches the agreements and continues to hold 19 hostages, there can be no unilateral progress on Israel’s part,” the group said in a statement.
The next phases of Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza are set to include the disarmament of Hamas, amnesty for leaders who surrender their weapons, and the establishment of a new governing authority for post-war Gaza.
But Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any failure by Hamas to uphold its end of the deal would trigger a resumption of military operations.
“If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel—working closely with the United States—will resume fighting to achieve a total defeat of Hamas and secure all the objectives of the war,” Katz’s office said.
President Trump, meanwhile, called for patience, noting the grisly and painstaking work still underway in Gaza.
“It’s a gruesome process. They’re digging, they’re actually digging,” Trump said. “They’re finding bodies buried under rubble—some there for a long time. It’s heartbreaking.”
For many families, the return of the surviving hostages—after two agonizing years of fear and uncertainty—has brought a measure of relief. Yet for others, closure remains elusive as Israel presses forward in its mission to bring every last captive home.
About the Author
