Insane
IDF Pulls Back from Gaza to Let Hamas Search for Hostage Remains
Israel has begun withdrawing IDF troops from specific Gaza areas to allow Hamas teams to conduct physical searches for the remains of fallen hostages.
In an extraordinary concession under U.S. pressure, Israel has begun withdrawing IDF troops from specific Gaza areas to allow Hamas teams to conduct physical searches for the remains of fallen hostages, Kan News reported Sunday evening.The move, described by one senior Israeli security official as “a massive return to the policy of October 6," is designed to clear the way for Phase Two of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire and hostage release framework.
“In the United States, they want to move forward to the next phase, even if not all the fallen are returned for burial,” a defense source told Kan News.
How It Works
Hamas and Red Cross teams enter Israeli-controlled zones for field surveys and excavation.
IDF units fully withdraw from those sectors to avoid any contact.
Operations began within the last 24 hours, following intense talks with Trump envoys and mediators.
U.S. Frustration with Israeli Stance
American officials have expressed bafflement at Israel’s insistence on recovering all remains before advancing negotiations.During a high-level call last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir briefed Vice President J.D. Vance on the decade-long effort to locate Lt. Hadar Goldin, killed in 2014 and still held by Hamas.“We’ve had soldiers digging in Gaza for months, 11 years of continuous activity,” Zamir reportedly said, underscoring Israel’s deep commitment.
Four Hostages Still Unaccounted For
Israeli intelligence believes four slain hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack remain in Gaza, with no known burial sites.
The concession marks a rare instance of direct operational coordination, albeit at a distance, between Israeli forces and Hamas, two years after the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.