Israel demands Hamas return bodies of slain hostages

Israeli media reported that the government has demanded Hamas return the bodies of Israelis killed in Gaza within days, warning that humanitarian aid could be reduced otherwise.

Hamas has so far returned only nine of 28 bodies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed imposing harsher measures for now.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told a conference in Naples that Hamas was deliberately withholding the bodies: “We know they can easily release them under the agreement. What is happening now is a gross violation of the deal.”

An Israeli government source said intelligence data has been shared with mediators to expedite the process, coordinated with the United States.