Hostage Families Demand Immediate Halt to Gaza Ceasefire Plan’s Next Phase Over Failure to Return Remaining Deceased Captives

In a powerful and emotional plea, the families of Israeli hostages and missing persons have demanded that the next stages of the US-brokered Gaza peace plan be halted immediately. The core of their urgent demand stems from the failure of Hamas to return the remaining bodies of deceased captives, an obligation they claim was part of the earlier agreements.

According to a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Monday, October 27, 2025, two weeks have passed since the agreed-upon deadline for the return of all 48 hostages, yet 13 bodies still remain in Hamas captivity. The Forum stated, “Hamas knows exactly where every one of the deceased hostages is held,” accusing the militant group of withholding the remains.

The families are applying immense pressure on international actors, urging the Government of Israel, the United States administration, and the mediators involved in the peace process to reconsider their next steps. They stressed they will not tolerate an advancement to the next phase of the agreement until Hamas fully complies with all its commitments and ensures the return of every single hostage and the bodies of those who perished in captivity. This demand highlights the critical humanitarian component of the ongoing negotiations and the deep distress over the fate of their loved ones’ remains.