Suspend ceasefire until all bodies returned, relatives of Israeli captives in Gaza demand

The Families Forum, an Israeli group campaigning for the release of captives in Gaza, called for the suspension of further steps in the ceasefire agreement on Monday "until Hamas returns the last 13 bodies" still held in the Palestinian territory.

Recalling that under the terms of the agreement, all captives, dead and alive, should have been returned two weeks ago, the Families Forum issued a statement calling "on the Israeli government, the American administration and the mediators not to move to the next phase of the agreement until Hamas has fulfilled all of its obligations".

This second phase includes the disarmament of Hamas and the amnesty or exile of its fighters and the continuation of Israeli withdrawals from Gaza, points which remain subject to discussion.

Hamas released all 20 live captives on 13 October. It was also due to return the bodies of the 28 dead captives by that date, but has only returned 15 so far, citing difficulties in finding remains in territory ravaged by the Israeli offensive.

Israel has refused to allow in equipment to remove rubble that Hamas says is necessary to locate other bodies.

Reporting by AFP