US restricts Israeli action as Hamas delays return of hostage bodies Sources tell Israeli television channel

Hamas has delayed returning the remains of deceased hostages to Israel for the third consecutive day, despite having the capacity to do so.

According to Kan, citing informed sources, the United States is currently preventing Israel from taking any unilateral measures in response to the delay.

Israeli officials, however, do not rule out the possibility that the bodies of two hostages could be returned today. The dead include a total of 13 hostages still held in Gaza.

The delay is believed to be part of Hamas’s strategy to prolong the ceasefire and prevent the transition to the second phase of the peace process, which the US administration has tied to disarmament.

Tensions have also risen between Israel and the United States in recent days. Washington reportedly expressed strong displeasure following the Knesset’s approval on October 22 of two bills to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank. The situation worsened the next day when Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Israel’s ruling coalition, made a derogatory remark about Saudi Arabia, suggesting it should “ride camels” instead of normalising relations with Israel. US President Donald Trump has already threatened aid reductions if Israel continues to test the patience of Arab states.

The phased transfer of hostages’ remains began on October 13, 2025, when Israel received the bodies of Guy Ilouz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz. The following day, four more bodies were returned. These included three Israelis — Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, and Eitan Levy — as well as one Palestinian Authority resident.

Subsequent transfers included the bodies of Inbar Heyman and Muhammad al-Atrash on October 15, Eliyahu Margalit on October 17, Thai citizen Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Ronen Engel on October 18, Tal Haimi on October 20, and Arye (Zalman) Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar on October 21.

Under the terms of the exchange agreement, Israel transfers the bodies of 15 militants to Gaza for each deceased hostage returned.

The release of hostages by Hamas began on October 13, 2025, with the last 20 survivors freed in exchange for the release of approximately 2,000 prisoners by Israel, many of whom were deported to Egypt.

Despite these efforts, families of the deceased hostages continue to demand the return of all remaining bodies. Protests have been held, including a rally at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families and supporters called for the immediate transfer of all the deceased.

By Tamilla Hasanova