Tel Aviv, October 15 (Daily Kiran): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday took a tough stance, warning that “devastation will follow” if Hamas refuses to disarm. His remarks came even as the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in Gaza, with the release of Israeli hostages followed by Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Hamas has handed over the bodies of four hostages to Israel.
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu told CBS News that if Hamas does not agree to disarm, “destruction is inevitable.” When asked how he could declare the war over while Israeli troops remain deployed in parts of Gaza and Hamas attempts to regain control, Netanyahu said, “We have agreed to give peace a chance.”
The Prime Minister explained that the ceasefire agreement includes a provision requiring the Palestinian militant group to disarm and ensure Gaza’s demilitarization. He emphasized that no weapons factories should operate inside Gaza and that no smuggling should take place along its borders.
Notably, U.S. President Trump also warned that if Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments under the agreement, “it will be forcibly disarmed.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed that the coffins containing the remains of four deceased hostages have reached the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel Aviv for identification, a process expected to take up to two days. Hamas has not disclosed the identities of the returned hostages.
As per The Times of Israel, Hamas informed mediators that it plans to return the bodies of four more deceased hostages on Wednesday, bringing the total to 12. The group claimed it needs more time to retrieve all bodies, saying several remain trapped under rubble and tunnels destroyed in Israeli airstrikes, while others are located in areas controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Hamas estimated that 16 bodies are still unrecovered.
Israel dismissed these claims as “delaying tactics” and threatened to restrict aid and close the Rafah border with Egypt if Hamas fails to return the remaining bodies immediately. It also warned that fighting could resume.
U.S. President Trump on Tuesday accused Hamas of misleading mediators regarding the bodies of the deceased hostages.
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