“We have no choice but to continue fighting,” Netanyahu said in a statement Monday, reaffirming his government’s position amid mounting international pressure to reach a ceasefire. “This war will not end until Hamas is destroyed, the hostages are returned, and Gaza no longer serves as a base for terror.”

His remarks come as heavy fighting continues in parts of Gaza, with both sides suffering significant casualties. The humanitarian crisis in the region continues to worsen, drawing sharp criticism from international human rights groups and several world governments.

Despite efforts by international mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, to broker a lasting truce, negotiations remain deadlocked. Calls for an immediate ceasefire have intensified, especially following reports of renewed strikes near population centers.

Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and others, has vowed to resist what it calls Israel’s occupation and aggression, insisting it will not surrender under military pressure.

With no clear end in sight, the conflict remains a flashpoint for regional instability, and diplomatic solutions appear increasingly elusive.

Hamas militants, dressed in black and camouflage uniforms, encircled the area.

Volker Turk, the United Nations human rights chief, condemned the display of bodies in Gaza, calling it both appalling and inhumane, and emphasized that it violated international law.

“According to international law, the handling of the remains of the deceased must adhere to the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, ensuring the dignity of both the deceased and their families is respected,” he stated in his remarks.

After the Red Cross handed over the hostages, the military reported that the coffins were inspected for explosives before being sent to Israel. Along the route near the Gaza border, Israelis stood in the rain to pay tribute as the convoy with the coffins passed by.

One woman, who identified herself only as Efrat, said, “We are here together with broken hearts. Even the sky is crying with us, and we hope for brighter days ahead.”

In Tel Aviv, people gathered in sorrow at what has come to be known as Hostages Square, outside Israel’s defence headquarters, many in tears.

President Isaac Herzog spoke for the nation, saying, “The pain and agony are beyond words. The hearts of an entire nation are in pieces.”

One militant stood beside a poster of a man standing over coffins wrapped in Israeli flags. Instead of legs he had tree roots in the ground, suggesting the land belongs to Palestinians. The poster read “The Return of the War=The Return of your Prisoners in Coffins”.

The two boys, their mother Shiri Bibas and a fourth hostage, Oded Lifschitz, were handed over under the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached last month with the backing of the United States and the mediation of Qatar and Egypt.

The Red Cross on Wednesday urged the handover be kept dignified. The Hamas-directed public hostage release ceremonies have come under growing criticism, including from the United Nations, which denounced the “parading of hostages”.

Kfir Bibas was only nine months old when his family, including his father Yarden, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community near Gaza that was attacked by Hamas militants. In November 2023, Hamas claimed that the boy and his mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but Israeli authorities never confirmed their deaths.

“Shiri and the kids became a symbol,” said Yiftach Cohen, a resident of Nir Oz, where around 25% of the population was either killed or taken hostage during the attack.

Yarden Bibas was released in a prisoner swap earlier this month. Among the Israelis who died on October 7 were also well-known peace activists.

Lifshitz, aged 83, was abducted from Nir Oz, the kibbutz he had helped to establish. His 85-year-old wife, Yocheved, was also captured but was released two weeks later, along with another woman.

A former journalist, Lifshitz wrote an opinion piece for the liberal-leaning Haaretz newspaper in January 2019, where he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies. Among his points was Netanyahu’s rejection of the two-state solution with the Palestinians, as well as his support for a 2011 prisoner swap that freed more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including the extremist Yahya Sinwar, in exchange for an Israeli soldier.

Sinwar later became the leader of Hamas in Gaza and masterminded the October 7 attack. He was killed by Israeli forces during the Gaza conflict. Both Netanyahu and Israel’s defence leadership have been criticized for failing to prevent the security breach on October 7, which became the deadliest day in Israel’s history.

LIVING HOSTAGES

The handover of the bodies marks the first time under the current agreement that deceased individuals have been returned, but Israel is not expected to identify them until DNA tests are finalized. According to Israeli sources, Hamas’ attack on Israel resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 people being kidnapped. In response, Israel’s military actions have led to roughly 48,000 deaths, as reported by Palestinian health authorities, and caused widespread destruction in Gaza.

The body handover on Thursday will be followed by the release of six living hostages on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians, mostly women and children, who have been detained by Israeli forces during the conflict.

Talks for a second phase, which are anticipated to involve the return of around 60 remaining hostages—less than half of whom are thought to be alive—and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to bring an end to the war, are expected to start soon.

When reporters asked for more clarification on his statement, Mr. Trump initially replied, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out, too. Hamas will find out what I mean.” He went on to explain that whether the ceasefire, which began on January 19, should end would be “Israel’s decision,” but he believed it would be “appropriate” to end the agreement if the hostages weren’t released by his deadline.

According to the ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, 33 Israeli hostages were set to be freed during the first six-week phase, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners being released from Israeli prisons.

By Monday, three weeks into phase one, around half of the hostages scheduled for release had been freed, adhering to the timeline outlined in the deal.

While signing executive orders at the White House, Mr. Trump commented on the situation involving hostages. His remarks came shortly after Hamas announced that the planned release of hostages, which was set for Saturday, would be delayed. A spokesperson for Hamas accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement by continuing airstrikes on Palestinians in Gaza.

Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, stated that Israel’s actions included preventing displaced Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, carrying out airstrikes and gunfire across various parts of the Gaza Strip, and blocking the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, described Hamas’ decision to postpone the next round of hostage releases as a “complete violation” of the ceasefire deal. He mentioned that he had directed the Israeli military to remain on high alert. The Israeli government’s coordinator for hostages reaffirmed the country’s commitment to honouring its part of the agreement.

However, former President Donald Trump warned that the deal could be jeopardised, suggesting that the delayed release of hostages on Saturday, initially expected to involve the release of three hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, should instead include all of the remaining hostages..

Mr. Trump stated, “I would say they should be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday. All of them, not in bits and pieces—no two, one, three, or four at a time.”

A senior Hamas official informed a news agency on Tuesday that Mr. Trump’s comments regarding the hostages “make things more difficult.” This came just days after talks were expected to begin in earnest to establish the conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire.

Sami Abu Zuhri remarked, “Trump needs to recall that there is an agreement that both sides must honour, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners (hostages).” He added, “The use of threats is meaningless and only makes matters more complicated.”

In a different part of an interview that aired on Monday, Mr. Trump declared that Palestinians would not be permitted to return to Gaza, adding that he would “own this.” He was referring to his previous remarks where he suggested the U.S. would “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip and that Palestinians should not come back.

Since the ceasefire began last month, Israel and Hamas have conducted five prisoner swaps, releasing 18 hostages, including Keith Siegel, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, along with more than 730 Palestinian detainees.

The most recent swap, which occurred on February 8, raised concerns due to the frail and weakened appearance of the three male hostages freed by Hamas. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum noted that the men had “endured hell itself” based on their condition.

The proposal presented by the president has gained growing support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Monday described it as “new, creative, and revolutionary.” However, it has faced widespread criticism from numerous countries in the region and globally, including those neighbouring Israel, to which Mr. Trump has suggested Gaza’s population should be moved.

While the ongoing conflict and the complex negotiations surrounding hostages demand urgent attention, it is crucial to emphasise the power of peace and diplomacy. As tensions continue to rise, it is vital for all parties to honor their commitments to ceasefire agreements and work towards the safe and compassionate release of hostages. Threats and ultimatums, while often used as negotiating tools, rarely foster lasting solutions. True progress can only be made through dialogue, mutual respect, and a genuine commitment to peace. In a world rife with division, it is imperative to remember that lasting peace is built on understanding, cooperation, and shared humanity—values that must guide all efforts for resolution.