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Israeli authorities have confirmed that teams from Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been granted access to search for the remains of deceased hostages taken during the October 7th attacks.
The Israeli government stated that these teams are authorized to conduct searches beyond the “yellow line,” the area under the control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) within Gaza.
In a separate development on Sunday, Israeli media outlets reported that Hamas members have also been permitted to enter the IDF-controlled region of Gaza to assist in the search efforts, working alongside the ICRC teams.
Hamas has reportedly transferred 15 out of 28 deceased Israeli hostages as part of the initial phase of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which stipulates the handover of all hostage remains. The group has indicated that it is coordinating with Egyptian authorities in this process.
Former US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Hamas, urging the swift return of the bodies, stating that “the other countries involved in this great peace will take action” if they are not.
An Israeli spokesperson confirmed that the Egyptian team is permitted to collaborate with the ICRC in locating the bodies, utilizing excavators and trucks for the search operations beyond the “yellow line.”
The “yellow line” delineates the boundary along the northern, southern, and eastern borders of Gaza to which Israel withdrew as part of the ceasefire’s initial stage.
Until now, Israel had not approved the entry of such teams into the area.
Egypt, along with Qatar and Turkey, is a key signatory to the Trump-brokered Gaza peace plan, which was formalized earlier this month in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
This development is expected to be welcomed by the relatives of the deceased hostages, who are seeking to provide them with proper burials.
The ICRC has been actively involved in the return of hostages throughout the process.
Hamas typically transfers captives, both living and deceased, not directly to the IDF, but rather to the ICRC, which then escorts them through Gaza and hands them over to the IDF.
The presence of Egyptian excavation teams within the Gaza Strip marks a new dimension to these efforts.
The UN estimates that approximately 84% of the territory has been reduced to rubble after more than two years of intense bombardment by Israel.
Hamas asserts that it is making every effort to retrieve the bodies of hostages, but is encountering difficulties due to the rubble resulting from Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The group is currently coordinating with the Egyptian authorities to facilitate these efforts.
On Sunday, an Israeli government spokesperson stated that Hamas possesses knowledge of the locations of the bodies.
“If Hamas made more of an effort, they would be able to retrieve the remains of our hostages,” the spokesperson said.
Trump conveyed on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that action would be taken if the remains of the deceased hostages were not returned promptly.
“Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has do with their disarming,” he said.
Trump added: “Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.”
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would determine which foreign forces it would allow as part of a planned international force in Gaza to help secure the ceasefire under Trump’s plan.
“We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate,” he said speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “a lot of countries” had offered to be part of the force – but added Israel would have to be comfortable with participants.
This appeared to be a reference to Turkey, amid reports Israel had vetoed the country’s involvement.
It remained unclear, however, how such a force could be deployed without an understanding with Hamas.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others as hostages.
At least 68,519 have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Around 15,000 Gazans are waiting for urgent medical treatment, according to the UN.
Michael Smuss, an artist who helped make petrol bombs during the uprising, died in Israel aged 99.
The US secretary of state says Israel must be comfortable with participants, but it is unclear how such a force could be deployed without an understanding with Hamas.
The appliance was sent to the West Bank last year but was impounded at an Israeli port where it has racked up £16,000 in fees.
Photographs show bodies with multiple signs of injury and wrists tied behind their backs.
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