Two more bodies of Israeli hostages returned. Trump: "If Hamas doesn't respect the agreement, Tel Aviv may attack."

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect. The Israeli army has The identification of the remains of two hostages handed over by the Palestinian faction has been confirmed. It is Inbar Hayman, a street artist from Haifa known by the pseudonym “Pink,” and Sergeant Major Muhammad al-Atrash, a Bedouin soldier. The bodies, transported during the night by the Red Cross from the Gaza Strip, were returned to their families after completing the identification process conducted by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The Israel Defense Forces military statement said that army representatives had informed the families of the bodies' repatriation for burial. Hayman, 27, was killed during the Nova festival, while al-Atrash, 39, fell in action on October 7.

Reopening of the Rafah crossing

The European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) will arrive in Rafah today to prepare for the reopening of the crossing., according to European sources. About thirty soldiers, including eight Italian Carabinieri, will have the task of restoring the infrastructure necessary for transit on both sides and providing minimum training to Palestinian forces who will operate on the border.

The European mission was forced to withdraw last March, following the end of the previous truce between Israel and Hamas. Since, Transit had only been possible from Egypt to Gaza, with restrictions imposed by Israel. It is estimated that At least two days of work, Friday and Saturday, will be needed to make the crossing operational. Private traffic and trucks carrying humanitarian aid could resume on Sunday or Monday, provided the ceasefire holds.

Hamas: return of the bodies

Hamas's military wing said it had returned to Israel all the live hostages and the bodies of dead hostages it could reach. He added that the remains of the bodies not yet delivered require great efforts and special equipment to be recovered, and that operations are underway to resolve the issue. 

Regarding this, President Trump stated: “If Hamas does not respect the agreement, Tel Aviv may attack”

Controversy had been raised yesterday after one of the bodies handed over by Hamas He turned out not to be an Israeli hostage, but a Palestinian who had collaborated with Israeli forces. According to Israeli media, the body was dressed in a military uniform and was reportedly killed in a tunnel at Jabaliya refugee camp in May 2024. Israeli authorities believe that he is a man of Jericho who had helped the Israeli forces and that the handover of the body occurred by mistake.

The return of the remains and the preparations for the reopening of the Rafah crossing represent the first concrete signs of implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The situation remains delicate, however, and any changes on the ground could affect the timing and methods of reopening and transferring the bodies.