Hamas has said the return of the remaining bodies "may take some time" due to the destruction wrought in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday instructed the country's military to "carry out powerful strikes in Gaza," a statement from his office said, in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.

The U.S. offered Hamas militants safe passage from areas in Gaza controlled by Israel to parts the group controls, U.S. and Israeli officials tell Axios. Why it matters: The goal of the U.S. proposal,

Hamas on Tuesday staged the discovery of remains belonging to an Israeli hostage, with video showing the terrorists reburying a corpse and then flagging it to the Red Cross — further justifying

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 20 people, including children, after Israel accused Hamas of violating the US-brokered ceasefire deal and staging the discovery of a deceased hostage.

President Donald Trump gave Hamas a 48-hour ultimatum to return bodies of 13 deceased hostages or face consequences from countries involved in the Gaza peace deal.

Regional players are unlikely to want their forces to “fight Hamas or get caught in the crossfire,” a former U.S. ambassador to Israel told NBC News.

Defense Minister Israel Katz says the “most important strategic objective” now in Gaza is the demilitarization of the Strip by destroying Hamas’s tunnels, 60% of which are still intact.

Military and Middle East experts say a new Gaza rebuilding plan focused on creating secure enclaves, restoring stability and cutting off Hamas terrorists could succeed in the long term.