Despite the truce and the return of some hostages’ remains, many in Israel demand that Hamas must still return all bodies, dismantle its arsenal, and submit Gaza to full demilitarization before additional elements of the deal can proceed.
The funerals of the past week have brought a heavy silence across Israel. Nine of the bodies returned from Gaza have been identified as Israelis who perished in captivity, most showing signs of restraint, torture, and execution. One additional coffin—initially believed to contain a fallen soldier—was later determined to belong to an Arab from Jericho who had reportedly assisted Israel. The revelation revived memories of previous Hamas deceptions and deepened public anger.
19 Israeli bodies remain unaccounted for in Gaza. IDF forensic teams continue the delicate work of identification while families demand that the government make full recovery of the dead a condition for any next phase. “The war isn’t over until every one of them is home,” said one bereaved father at Mount Herzl. That sentiment now dominates Israeli discourse—equal parts grief and defiance. And yet the IDF is apparently proceeding with post-war citations, a sign that it considers hostilities over.
The partial return has become a moral test of the ceasefire. For many Israelis, the gesture from Hamas is viewed as manipulative rather than conciliatory. In a rare show of unity, the Shas Party—often seen as pragmatic in wartime negotiations—announced this week that “the deal must proceed only until every fallen Israeli is brought home.” Shas leader Aryeh Deri’s statement reflected a broader shift across Israel’s coalition: the recovery of the dead has become a national red line.
At the same time, international mediators are urging Israel to proceed with the next phases of the Trump Plan. Envoys from Washington, Doha, and Cairo have privately pressed Jerusalem to show flexibility, arguing that implementing the political components of the agreement will help prevent a resurgence of violence. Yet Israeli officials remain wary. They argue that advancing before Hamas fulfills its commitments would invite renewed betrayal. As one senior aide put it, “We will not move forward on faith—we move only on proof.”
Disarmament remains the central demand. Under the Trump Plan, Hamas must surrender all weapons, dismantle its military infrastructure, and submit Gaza to strict international oversight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed this week that “disarmament is not a request—it is the foundation of any future for Gaza.” The IDF continues to monitor tunnels, weapons depots, and smuggling routes, vowing that Israeli forces will not withdraw until every mechanism of Hamas control is dismantled.
Hamas, however, insists on retaining its weapons until it receives “political guarantees” for Gaza’s future governance. Israel considers this a nonstarter. Military officials warn that any attempt by Hamas to stall or rebuild will trigger renewed strikes. “They can’t keep their guns and call that peace,” said one senior commander, reflecting the prevailing mood in Israel’s defense establishment.
Public sentiment remains resolute. Vigils and rallies in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba have demanded that no political concessions be made until all the dead are recovered and Hamas is fully disarmed. Families of the fallen have become the conscience of the nation, reminding Israelis that moral justice and military victory are inseparable. Many recall the painful lessons of past ceasefires, when temporary truces allowed Hamas to rearm and regroup.
American mediators continue to reassure Israel that compliance can be verified through international mechanisms. But few in Jerusalem believe external supervision can replace Israeli deterrence. The consensus across the government—from Likud to Shas—is that true peace must rest on concrete results, not promises. “Our dead must come home, and our enemies must disarm. That is the only measure of peace,” Deri told reporters.
For now, the ceasefire holds, but its foundations are fragile. The guns have fallen silent, yet the conditions for ending the war remain unmet. Until Hamas lays down its weapons, until every Israeli—living or dead—is brought home, and until Gaza is truly demilitarized, Israel will not consider the war over. The battle for peace, like the grief it carries, continues still.
The war won’t be over until every last hamas member is dead. They won’t stop, they’ll lie, they’ll use any opportunity to attack Israel where ever hamas thinks it’s the most vulnerable.