Hamas has not violated peace agreement yet as it makes efforts to return hostage bodies: US advisers
As senior Israeli officials accuse Hamas of stalling the implementation of the peace agreement, senior U.S. advisers said that the fragile peace deal that ended the war in Gaza seems to be holding, noting that Hamas is making every effort to return the remaining hostage bodies.
"We've heard a lot of people saying, well, you know, Hamas violated the deal, because not all the bodies have been returned. I think the understanding we had with them was we get all the live hostage hostages out, which they did honor that, and right now, we have a mechanism in place where we're working closely with mediators and with them to do our best to get as many bodies out as possible," a senior U.S. adviser said during a background call with reporters Wednesday.
The advisers said they believe both sides want to keep to the deal.
"Obviously, this is a very delicate situation after two years of war, and a lot could still occur, but right now, the intention is to keep working with both parties, getting them both to show restraint and creating the right conditions for demilitarization of Gaza to occur so that it can start to be rebuilt for its citizens and it can be done in a positive way where it does not pose a threat to Israel or its citizens," a senior U.S. adviser said.
The advisers also laid out their main priorities going forward on implementing the peace deal ending the war in Gaza: "deconfliction, humanitarian aid, recovery of the remaining bodies," as well as restoring "whatever order is possible to create the conditions from redevelopment and rebuilding."
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart





