TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Hamas has so far released 13 bodies of hostages that were held in Gaza for the past two years as part of the ceasefire agreement in the Israel-Hamas war. The process of returning the bodies of the last 15 remaining hostages — as called for under the truce deal — has now stalled.

Hamas says it has not been able to reach all of the remains because they are buried under rubble left behind by Israel’s two-year offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israel has accused Hamas of dragging their feet and threatened to resume military operations or withhold humanitarian aid if all of the remains are not returned.

Hamas last week freed the last 20 living hostages taken during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoner

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