A dispute over the exchange of remains is threatening the Gaza truce. Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies, but Hamas has so far returned only 18 hostage remains, falling far short of the agreed 15-to-1 ratio and drawing a sharp warning from Donald Trump.
Trump, writing on Truth Social, warned Hamas to return more bodies within 48 hours. Hamas has claimed the recovery operation is “hampered by extensive destruction,” with Egypt dispatching heavy machinery to help.
As this critical part of the truce falters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is focused on the next phase. On Sunday, he laid down the law, declaring Israel will have a full veto over the nations participating in the peacekeeping force.
The US, via Secretary of State Marco Rubio, supports this, saying the force must be “comfortable” for Israel and must exclude Hamas from power. Netanyahu has already singled out Turkey for exclusion.
The ceasefire was also tested by an Israeli strike on Nuseirat, which Hamas called a “clear violation.”
