Massive destruction across the Gaza Strip has made it nearly impossible for Hamas to locate and recover the bodies of remaining Israeli hostages buried under rubble. On Saturday, an Egyptian convoy carrying excavators and bulldozers entered Gaza to support recovery operations.
The convoy’s arrival followed a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement requiring Israel to return 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage’s body. So far, Israel has returned 195 Palestinian bodies, while Hamas has handed over 18 Israeli bodies. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 living hostages.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “watching very closely” to ensure all bodies are returned within 48 hours. “Some bodies are difficult to recover, but others they can return now,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Hamas Expands Search as Recovery Efforts Stall
In recent days, Hamas has failed to locate or release any more bodies due to the widespread damage in Gaza. A senior negotiator said many bodies remain trapped deep underground, requiring specialized machinery to retrieve. On Sunday, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya announced the expansion of searches into new parts of the Strip to find 13 remaining bodies.
Last week, Turkish rescue teams entered Gaza and began clearing debris in Khan Younis, where Israeli airstrikes left an estimated 800 tonnes of rubble. The cleanup aims to restore access to heavily damaged neighborhoods and support ongoing recovery efforts.
Despite foreign assistance, recovery operations continue to move slowly amid fuel shortages, damaged infrastructure, and ongoing security concerns.
Israel Launches Second Strike on Refugee Camp in One Week
On Saturday night, Israeli forces launched another airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, injuring at least four people, according to officials at Awda Hospital. The attack marked the second strike on the camp within a week.
The Israeli military said it targeted Islamic Jihad militants preparing attacks against Israeli troops. The group denied the claim, calling it an excuse for continued aggression. Hamas condemned the strike as a violation of the ceasefire and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the agreement.
Netanyahu defended the operation, saying Israel would continue neutralizing threats before they materialize. “We act to stop dangers as they form, as we did yesterday in Gaza,” he said during his Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
