Hostages Search on Track
Desperate Dig: Israel Hunts for Slain Hostages Buried Under Gaza Rubble
Israel initiates extensive search operations in Gaza Strip to locate remains of deceased hostages, with international support from Egyptian teams and Red Cross joining the recovery efforts.
Israel has initiated extensive search operations within IDF-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip as officials believe the remains of several deceased hostages are buried under the rubble, two Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday morning.
The searches are focused on the “Yellow Line,” the demarcation zone established as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
International and Egyptian Teams Join Effort
The operation is being bolstered by international cooperation. According to an N12 report, a Red Cross team has arrived in Rafah, near the Yellow Line, to assist in locating additional remains.
Crucially, the Israeli government also authorized a request from Cairo to allow Egyptian equipment and personnel to enter the Gaza Strip and join the recovery mission.
This deployment of Egyptian teams and equipment has now begun, with personnel entering Gaza to help locate and retrieve the remains of slain hostages.
Waiting for Returns
The intensified search comes amid speculation regarding potential future returns. Israel was recently preparing for the possibility that Hamas might release the remains of two additional hostages, according to reports by Army Radio and N12 News, each citing an Israeli source.
On Friday, indications suggested Hamas was preparing to return remains, though the terror group ultimately did not proceed.
A senior Israeli official told Ynet that Hamas may still return eight more living hostages to Israel. However, the whereabouts of another five hostages remain entirely