Israeli Ambassador Reveals Hamas Has Not Handed Over Dead Hostages’ Bodies

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon revealed that Hamas has not repatriated the bodies of dead hostages as promised under the Gaza peace framework which saw the 20 living hostages freed in the early morning.

Scenes of hostages being reunited with loved ones after 737-day ordeal as part of President Donald Trump’s Gaza deal dominated headlines across the world on Monday. The release comes as part of a delicate exchange under which Israel will release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for both the living hostages and the remains of 28 hostages who did not survive captivity.

Speaking to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, Danon flagged that he had received news before coming on air that the bodies of deceased hostages would not be returned today, warning that Hamas was “not delivering” what it was “supposed to”:

We have to remember that we still have the hostages who are deceased, that are in Gaza. They were supposed to arrive today. From what we are hearing, we haven’t received good news about it. Apparently Hamas is not delivering what they are supposed to in terms of the bodies of the deceased hostages. I hope that there will be some changes before the end of the day.

He also reflected on the historic day and the work done to secure the return of the living hostages:

You know, Wolf, we prayed for that day. We fought for that day. And to see the reunification of the young boys, you know, some of them went to a party and come back home after two years in captivity, you know, we are grateful for President Trump, for Prime Minister Netanyahu. But we also remember the sacrifice, you know, the number of casualties, you know, more than 2000 civilians and soldiers died in those two years in order to bring us to where we are today. So we remember, you know, the heavy price.

Watch above via CNN.