Israel Links the Second Phase in Gaza to the Delivery of the Last Hostage's Body

SadaNews - Israeli Channel 12 reported today, Sunday, that Israel has informed the United States that progress toward the second phase in Gaza is conditional on the delivery of the last body held by the movement.

It also added that Israel continues to refuse to begin reconstruction in the Gaza Strip unless the Hamas movement is disarmed.

In contrast, the United States has assured Israel of its commitment to disarming Hamas, according to Channel 12.

It is noted that since October 10, a fragile ceasefire has been in effect between Israel and Hamas, while both sides exchange accusations of violating it.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which sponsored this agreement, is pushing for the transition to its second phase, amid confirmation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that this transition will be "complicated."

Both sides still disagree on the next steps, as Israel demands the disarmament of Hamas and prohibits it from any future administrative role in Gaza, while the movement refuses to relinquish its weapons and demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Under the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, sponsored by the U.S. and which took effect on October 10, Hamas handed over the last 20 surviving hostages, as well as the remains of 27 out of 28 deceased hostages so far.

All bodies have been returned except for that of Israeli Ran Ghivli, 24 years old, who is a member of the special patrol unit (Yasam) in the Negev area, amid Israeli accusations against Palestinian factions of stalling in the delivery.

However, Hamas asserts that the process of retrieving the bodies is slow due to the massive rubble left by two years of devastating war.