• Hamas handed over remains of two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross amidst ongoing conflict.
• Israeli PM Netanyahu insists the war will only end after Hamas is disarmed.
• The Rafah crossing remains closed pending the fulfillment of hostage return obligations.
• A total of 12 out of 28 deceased hostages have been returned to Israel so far.

On Saturday, Hamas transferred the remains of two Israeli hostages to Red Cross teams in Gaza, marking a significant development in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. This handover brings the total number of deceased hostages returned to Israel to 12 out of 28, but challenges persist in recovering all remains due to widespread devastation in Gaza, according to aa and BBC.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that the conflict will only conclude after Hamas is disarmed, asserting that “when that is successfully completed... then the war will end,” according to statements made during a broadcast on Channel 14. He linked further actions, including the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, to the return of all hostages' remains, highlighting the tough expectations placed on Hamas in the ceasefire agreement, as reported by India Times and LA Times.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms by not adequately facilitating the return of the remains and keeping the Rafah crossing closed. They have expressed that recovery efforts are hampered by the destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes, complicating their ability to recover remaining hostages' bodies beneath the rubble, as detailed by CBS News and Al Jazeera.

As of now, the U.S. has downplayed claims that delays in the return of all hostages amount to a breach of the ceasefire deal, while the international community pressures both parties to adhere to the terms laid out in the negotiations overseen by the U.S. government, according to aa and BBC.