As Israel accuses Hamas of deal violation, US mulls rewards for Gaza hostage recovery
The proposed rewards come as Hamas says it has returned all the hostage bodies it can access.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration says Hamas appears committed to handing over the remaining hostage bodies, but with conditions on the ground complicating the search, the United States may offer rewards to Palestinians who help to locate them.
“We continue to hear from them that they intend to honor the deal,” a senior US adviser briefing reporters Wednesday said.
“What we basically say to the Israeli side who say, ‘We think they could do more’ is to give us whatever intelligence you're hearing or seeing. Let's pass it over,” the adviser said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Palestinian militant group agreed to release all 48 living and dead hostages by a now-lapsed Monday deadline as part of the US-backed ceasefire plan, which also required Israel to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and partially withdraw its troops in Gaza.
