Massive destruction across the Gaza Strip has made it nearly impossible for Hamas to recover the bodies of remaining Israeli hostages buried beneath rubble. An Egyptian convoy carrying excavators and bulldozers entered Gaza on Saturday to assist with recovery operations.
The US-brokered ceasefire agreement requires Israel to return 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli hostage’s body recovered. So far, Israel has handed back 195 Palestinian corpses, while Hamas has returned 18 Israeli bodies. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli hostages as part of the deal.
US President Donald Trump said he is “watching very closely” to ensure the remaining bodies are returned within 48 hours. “Some bodies are difficult to reach, but others could be recovered now,” he posted on Truth Social.
Hamas Expands Search as Rubble Slows Recovery
Hamas officials admitted that widespread devastation has halted recovery work for five days. The group’s top negotiator said corpses lie buried deep beneath collapsed buildings and require specialized machinery to extract. On Sunday, Hamas expanded its search to new parts of the Gaza Strip to locate the 13 remaining Israeli bodies, confirmed Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya.
A Turkish convoy previously entered Gaza to clear rubble in Khan Younis, where roughly 800 tonnes of debris have accumulated from Israeli airstrikes. Local authorities said the city remains overwhelmed by destruction, slowing humanitarian operations and recovery missions.
Israel Hits Refugee Camp Amid Ceasefire Tensions
Israeli warplanes struck Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday night, injuring at least four civilians, according to Awda Hospital staff. It was Israel’s second strike on the camp in one week.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted Islamic Jihad militants preparing to attack Israeli troops, but the group denied the allegation. Hamas condemned the strike as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to undermine the truce.
Netanyahu defended the action, saying Israel would continue to “thwart threats before they materialize.” He reiterated that Israeli forces acted to prevent imminent attacks during his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
