Israeli officials are expressing concern that after Hamas returned the two hostages who were killed on Thursday, the group will now continue to "delay" the return of the remaining 11 bodies of hostages in its custody.
"There is little pressure on the organization from the mediators to release more hostages, and some of the bodies are located in places that will make a swift return difficult," an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.
"We still have leverage to apply pressure on the organization to return the hostages, and there are two more hostages we believe they can return immediately. Still, there is concern that we may see another situation where days go by without any bodies being returned."
Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding the implementation of the Trump plan. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is in the US to meet with senior American officials, and US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine will visit Israel and the Gaza Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat in the coming days to discuss the continued implementation of the ceasefire and the formation of the international force.
US to work on international security force to police Gaza
The Trump administration hopes to present the international security force (ISF) in the coming weeks, which is expected to include soldiers from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Egypt. Israel opposes the inclusion of official Palestinian Authority representatives as part of the force, but it is likely that Palestinians who are not affiliated with the PA will join, in accordance with Arab states' demands.
The possibility is being examined for the US Central Command to train the Palestinian personnel alongside other countries.
A US official told the Post that "planning deliberations are ongoing on the ISF."
The US administration has not given up on the issue of Turkish involvement in the multinational force. Israel has vetoed the presence of Turkish soldiers in the force, and Vice President JD Vance publicly stated that Israel's veto on who can participate in the force would be respected.
However, the US continues to try to persuade Israel to accept Turkish involvement. A US official told the Post that, "The Turks can influence Hamas. They are like a hammer, so it is important for them to be in Gaza."