Israel has shared intelligence with mediators involved in the Israel-Hamas negotiations confirming the information it possesses to locate the remains of the hostages still in Gaza, a diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
In coordination with the US and the mediators, Israel is exerting pressure to complete the first stage of the Trump peace plan and ensure the return of all the hostages held by Hamas, the source stated.
After a discussion on Hamas's delay in handing over the remains of the hostages with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and heads of the defense establishment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump.
“We know for certain that Hamas can easily release a significant number of hostages in accordance with the agreement. What they are doing now is a fundamental violation of the agreement,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said.
"We are sharing our concern with our American friends and expect the mediators to help resolve this issue immediately. It is very important, because this is playing with the emotions of families who have suffered enough for more than two years.”
Israel may return to war if hostage remains not returned
US President Donald Trump told CNN on Wednesday that he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal.
"Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and knock the crap of them, they’d do that," Trump was quoted as saying to CNN in a brief telephone call when asked what would happen if Hamas refused to disarm.
Point four of Trump's 20-point peace plan states that "all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned," within 72 hours of Israel "publicly accepting this agreement."
Shas party leader Arye Deri demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately halt all parts of the agreement with Hamas, including opening the Rafah border crossing and allowing aid to enter the Gaza Strip, in a Thursday post on X/Twitter.
Deri insisted that this should be the case until Hamas "cooperates fully and seriously" in returning the remains of all murdered hostages.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.