Hamas is expected to return two abducted individuals tonight, according to a senior official in the security system speaking to News 14. This development occurs amid escalating rhetoric from Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who on October 15th, 2025, criticized Israel's justifications for actions in southern Syria as "ridiculous," questioning the expansion of Israeli protective justifications. Al-Sharaa's statement, shared on X by user Qasemqt, specifically referenced Israel's occupation of the Golan since 1967 and its current alleged intent to take areas in southern Syria for protection. He drew parallels to past justifications for taking the Golan to protect northern Israel, questioning how far such justifications would extend. Previous reports from earlier today indicated ongoing disputes regarding the return of bodies, with Israel accusing Hamas of violating deal terms after 45 Palestinian bodies returned by Israel to Gaza showed signs of abuse. Nasser Hospital officials in Khan Younis confirmed the bodies were transferred tagged with numbers and had yet to be identified. Senior Israeli officials had reiterated yesterday that negotiations had not advanced to Stage B, emphasizing the necessity of completing Step A, which involves the return of all bodies. This follows Israel's statement that the fourth body handed over by Hamas overnight was identified as a Palestinian resident of Jericho, not an Israeli hostage. In separate incidents reported yesterday and earlier today, approximately 20 Hamas operatives were arrested near the European hospital area in Gaza, found with around 50 SIM cards. Three additional individuals, identified as observers sent by Hamas, were also arrested in the vicinity.
