ISTANBUL <\/p>\n
The Palestinian group Hamas called on international actors on Monday to pressure Israel to honor its ceasefire commitments in Gaza, saying it is working to complete the handover of Israeli hostages\u2019 remains despite major challenges.<\/p>\n
Hamas \u201cabides by all details of the ceasefire in Gaza, especially in the first phase by handing over all living captives at once,\u201d Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a press statement published on the group\u2019s Telegram channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working daily to complete the handover of all the remains of the Israeli captives,\u201d Qassem said, noting that the process faces \u201cmajor challenges because of the extensive destruction\u201d in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Hamas already released 20 living Israeli hostages and handed over the remains of 13 more captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement which took effect on Oct. 10, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Qassem accused Israel of deliberately bombing areas where hostages were kept during the war.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the main obstacles we face in delivering the remains is the absence of heavy machinery needed to remove the rubble,\u201d he added. \u201cWe have made this clear to the mediators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qassem said Hamas is in constant contact with mediators, including the US, about Israel\u2019s repeated ceasefire violations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll parties that want calm in the region must pressure the (Israeli) occupation to ensure it fulfills its (ceasefire) commitments,\u201d he said, accusing Israel of \u201cusing the aid file to exert political blackmail and threaten Palestinians with starvation once again.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Israel \u201chas not abandoned its policy of starvation against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Gaza government\u2019s media office reported 80 Israeli ceasefire violations since the agreement came into effect on Oct. 10, resulting in 97 Palestinians killed and 230 others injured.<\/p>\n
Since October 2023, Israel\u2019s genocidal war has killed more than 68,200 people and injured more than 170,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.<\/p>\n