Hostage remains returned to Israel โas Merz Presses โคNetanyahu on โAid and โขCeasefire
JERUSALEM โค- Additional remainsโ believed to be of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were transferred to Israeli authorities today, โNovember 2, 2025, accordingโฃ to reports emerging from โongoing negotiations. the handover occurred as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz engaged in โa phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister โขBenjamin Netanyahu, underscoring the urgency of โฃsecuring the release โof all remaining hostages and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians inโค Gaza.
The returnโฃ ofโ these remains represents a somber progress โinโค the protracted conflict, which โbegan with Hamas’s October 7, 2023,โฃ attacks on โคIsrael. While the โnumber of remains returned in this latestโ exchange has notโค been โpubliclyโข disclosed, the move follows weeks ofโค indirect negotiations mediated by qatar, Egypt,โ and theโข United States.โ The situationโข remains critically sensitive,โ with โฃthe fate โof dozens of hostages still โขunknown โฃand the potential forโ renewed hostilities looming.
during the call, Chancellor Merz directly urged prime Minister Netanyahu to prioritize the swift and unconditional release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. He also emphasized the critical needโ for the safe and rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to the population of the Gaza Strip,โฃ which is facing a severe โฃhumanitarian crisis. The twoโ leaders โคfurther discussedโ strategies โคfor stabilizing theโ current ceasefire and preventing a further escalation of violence.
Merz and Netanyahu also exchangedโ views on the โฃprospects for a lasting resolution to the conflict,with โthe โGermanโข Chancellor reiterating Germany’s commitment toโข a two-state โคsolution and a secure future for both Israelisโ and Palestinians. The conversation took โplace at โค18:15 โCET.