Families of missing Israeli hostages demand pause in Gaza truce plan

Search for 13 more bodies hampered by destruction during war, says Hamas

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Machinery operating at a site in a search for the bodies of hostages in the rubble of Khan Younis, Gaza, on Oct 19. Hamas says it is committed to the ceasefire and insists it is trying to return the bodies of 13 dead captives -- 11 more Israelis and two workers from Thailand and Tanzania.

(SAHER ALGHORRA/NYTIMES)

The families of Israeli hostages on Oct 27 demanded that the next steps in the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire be put on hold until Hamas returns the remaining bodies of dead captives.

“Hamas knows exactly where every one of the deceased hostages is held. Two weeks have passed since the deadline set in the agreement for the return of all 48 hostages, yet 13 remain in Hamas captivity,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

“The families urge the Government of Israel, the United States administration and the mediators not to advance to the next phase of the agreement until Hamas fulfils all of its obligations and returns every hostage to Israel,” the association said.

On Oct 10, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, ending the Gaza war, which was triggered by the Palestinian group’s cross-border attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people in Israel.

Hamas militants also took 251 people hostage during the attack.