Israel Reduces Flow Of Aid Into Gaza As Hamas Fails To Deliver Bodies Of Slain Hostages

Israel said it is not reopening a key crossing that connects Gaza and Egypt and will reduce the amount of aid flowing into the enclave as a result of Hamas' failure to deliver the bodies of hostages killed there, according to a new report.

Times of Israel reporter Emanuel Fabian detailed that Israel won't reopen the Rafah crossing either, which connects Gaza and Egypt.

Hamas on Monday released the bodies of four killed hostages, which Israel said was less than what had been agreed with the militant group, considered a terrorist organization by the U.S.

The families of the 24 other hostages who died in Gaza and have not been retrieved yet expressed their dismay at the development. Hamas said efforts to get the bodies could take time because they didn't know all burial sites.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, warned that "any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a gross violation of the agreement."

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) added that "Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make necessary efforts to return all the hostages to their families and to proper burial."

So far the IDF said it identified the four bodies, two of whom have been released: they are Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese citizen whose death had not been confirmed. The IDF said that Illouz was "injured and abducted alive" by Hamas operatives after escaping the attack on the Nova music festival on October 7 2023.

"Guy died from his wounds after not receiving proper medical treatment while held captive by Hamas," the IDF added.

Joshi, on his end, was abducted from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim two years ago and "murdered in captivity during the first months of the war." The two other names have not yet been cleared for publication by their families.