An Israeli official said Hamas does not know the locations of five of the 13 dead hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip, a fact that, according to the Israeli side, indicates that the organization is trying to buy time.
As reported by the Israeli Ynet, the official, who was not named, said that Hamas "is playing games and trying to delay the process, in order to extend the ceasefire without moving forward with the second phase of the agreement, which requires its disarmament."
The ceasefire agreement, which came into effect earlier this month, calls for the return of all hostages from Hamas. However, it was initially thought that some of the bodies of the then 28 dead hostages would be difficult to find in the rubble of Gaza. Since then, under pressure from Israel, Hamas has returned 15 bodies.
Estimates of the number of bodies the group may recover vary. According to Israeli defense officials who briefed U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Hamas may hand over at least 10 of the 13 remaining dead hostages. Other sources, however, estimate that number may be lower.
Source: protothema.gr
