Hamas hands over 3 bodies after ‘complex search operation’
After a complex search operation, Hamas has handed over the bodies of three Israeli captives. The search is happening in areas beyond the so-called Yellow Line, that is, areas under Israeli military control. This requires complex coordination. Hamas fighters enter with ICRC staff. They are aided by outside heavy machinery because these bodies lie under the rubble.
Now, the Israeli destruction of homes continues in those areas, whether it’s in Bani Suheila, where the bodies of the three captives were found this Sunday, or in the Shujayea neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, where the search continues for more bodies of Israeli captives. Eight in total remain in Gaza.
According to many experts, including senior US officials, the search for the remaining eight will be even more complicated.
There are hundreds of tonnes of rubble in Gaza, and it is not certain whether Hamas will be able to locate all of those bodies. It will be up to the Trump administration to steer the ceasefire forward, because Israel conditions moving to phase 2 [of the ceasefire] on the return of all the bodies of Israeli captives.
Israeli releases names of three deceased captives returned by Hamas
Israeli authorities have confirmed the identities of the three deceased captives that Hamas returned – Colonel Asaf Hamami, Captain Omer Maxim Neutra, and Staff Sergeant Oz Daniel.
Earlier, Trump confirmed that one of the bodies was that of American Israeli soldier Neutra from New York.
PoWs, not hostages...
Efforts under way to recover more bodies of captives in Gaza
Earlier this morning, members of the Qassam Brigades along with Red Cross teams were allowed to approach a site not far from our location in Gaza City where a number of bodies were buried by Hamas.
This morning, a number of bulldozers and excavators were moving to the site which has been subjected to extensive Israeli attacks. A number of bodies could be retrieved there if the process goes smoothly.
Hamas handed over the bodies of three captives yesterday, which leaves just eight bodies in several locations to be retrieved in order to ensure the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
There is serious diplomatic pressure being applied in order to return all the bodies and accomplish the first stage of the ceasefire agreement in order to improve living conditions in Gaza and ensure progress to the second phase.
Heavy machinery from Egypt is deployed in the search for the bodies of captives in Gaza City under the supervision of the Red Cross and the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing
