The massive destruction across Gaza has made it nearly impossible for Hamas to locate and recover the bodies of remaining Israeli hostages trapped beneath rubble. On Saturday, an Egyptian convoy carrying excavators and bulldozers entered Gaza to assist in the recovery efforts.
Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Israel agreed to return 15 Palestinian prisoners’ bodies for every Israeli body recovered. Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies, while Hamas has handed over 18 Israeli remains. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “watching very closely” to ensure all bodies are returned within 48 hours. “Some are difficult to reach, but others they can return now and are not,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Hamas Expands Search Efforts Across Gaza Strip
Hamas has failed to release additional bodies over the past five days due to the severe devastation in the enclave. The group’s chief negotiator said many bodies remain buried deep underground, requiring specialized recovery equipment.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya confirmed on Sunday that teams expanded search operations into new areas of Gaza to locate the remaining 13 Israeli bodies. Last week, a Turkish convoy arrived to clear debris in Khan Younis, where the municipality estimates 800 tonnes of rubble have accumulated from Israeli airstrikes.
Despite the new machinery, the ongoing lack of power, fuel, and safe access has slowed the recovery process. Humanitarian officials warn that without more equipment, locating the bodies could take weeks.
Israeli Forces Strike Refugee Camp Despite Ceasefire
Israeli forces bombed the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday night, injuring at least four people, according to Awda Hospital. It marked Israel’s second strike on the camp in one week.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted Islamic Jihad militants planning attacks on Israeli troops. The group denied the accusation. Hamas condemned the assault as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining the agreement.
Netanyahu defended the strike, saying Israel must act preemptively. “We thwart dangers before they materialize, as we did yesterday in Gaza,” he said during his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
