Widespread destruction across Gaza has made it nearly impossible for Hamas to locate and retrieve Israeli hostage bodies buried under rubble. On Saturday, the first Egyptian convoy carrying bulldozers and excavators entered Gaza to assist in recovery operations.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire, Israel agreed to return 15 bodies of imprisoned Palestinians for every Israeli hostage body. So far, Israel has handed back 195 Palestinian bodies, while Hamas has returned 18 Israeli bodies. Earlier this month, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages.
US President Donald Trump said he is “watching very closely” to ensure all bodies are returned within 48 hours. He wrote on Truth Social that some bodies could be recovered immediately, accusing Hamas of delaying their return.
Hamas Expands Search Amid Rubble and Shortages
Hamas leaders admitted that severe damage across the enclave has slowed recovery efforts. The group’s top negotiator said many bodies remain buried deep underground, requiring specialized equipment to access them.
On Sunday, Hamas expanded its search zones throughout the Strip to locate 13 remaining Israeli bodies, according to its Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya. The ongoing debris removal operation relies heavily on outside aid and machinery.
Last week, a Turkish convoy arrived in Gaza to clear rubble from Khan Younis in the south. Local officials estimated roughly 800 tonnes of debris had accumulated after Israeli bombardments.
Israel Bombs Refugee Camp, Ceasefire Under Strain
Israeli warplanes struck the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday night, injuring at least four civilians, Awda Hospital reported. It marked the second Israeli attack on the camp within a week.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted Islamic Jihad militants preparing an attack, but the group denied the accusation. Hamas called the strike a blatant violation of the ceasefire, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining peace efforts.
Netanyahu defended the strike during his Cabinet meeting Sunday, saying, “We stop threats as they form, before they strike—just as we did yesterday in Gaza.” The renewed violence raised fears the fragile ceasefire could collapse amid ongoing hostilities.
