Unreturned Remains in Gaza Highlight the Human Cost and Stalled Accountability in Hamas Conflict

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal assault on southern Israel, kidnapping numerous innocent civilians and soldiers. While the last 20 living hostages have been released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the grim task of retrieving the remains of nearly 20 victims remains unresolved, illuminating a painful chapter in this ongoing conflict. Hamas claims that the bodies are inaccessible, buried beneath the rubble of Israeli strikes during its two-year offensive in Gaza. Yet Israel, facing persistent delay tactics, warns that failure to secure the return of these remains threatens a resumption of military operations. How long will...