Hamas Expands Search for Hostage Remains in Gaza Strip
The Palestinian group Hamas has widened its search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, a day after Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to aid in the retrieval process. Under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 10, Hamas is expected to return the remains of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible, with Israel agreeing to return 15 Palestinian bodies for each one.
The ceasefire agreement has led to a significant development in the retrieval of bodies, with Hamas returning the remains of 15 hostages so far. However, the group has not handed over any bodies in the past five days. In contrast, Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians, many of whom remain unidentified. The search for bodies is being conducted in areas with significant damage, including the southern city of Khan Younis, where children and others have watched Egyptian equipment claw through the sand near badly damaged buildings.
The retrieval of bodies is a crucial aspect of the ceasefire agreement, which also includes the disarming of Hamas and the post-war governance of Gaza. The United Nations and its partners continue to urge Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the region, which is struggling with famine. International media have been barred from entering Gaza, except for brief visits with Israel’s military, a restriction that remains in place.
US President Donald Trump has warned that he is closely monitoring the situation, expecting Hamas to return more bodies within the next 48 hours. Trump expressed concern that some bodies are not being returned, despite being easily accessible. Hamas has attributed the challenges in retrieving remains to the massive destruction caused by the conflict. An Egyptian team, equipped with excavators and bulldozers, entered Gaza on Saturday to support the retrieval efforts.
The deployment of the Egyptian team is part of the mediators’ efforts to strengthen the ceasefire. The situation in Gaza remains a pressing concern, with the international community calling for increased humanitarian aid and a lasting resolution to the conflict. As the search for hostage remains continues, the focus will shift to the more complex aspects of the ceasefire agreement, including the disarming of Hamas and the governance of Gaza.