Hamas informed mediators on Friday evening that it had located the body of an Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities are preparing for the transfer.
Earlier in the day, sources familiar with the process told Arab media that since Thursday, Hamas had been searching for deceased hostages under rubble in two areas: Khan Younis and Gaza City. Footage broadcast by Qatari media showed bulldozers working in pits in the Khan Younis area.
The sources added that some of the structures near where the deceased are believed to be located had been destroyed, necessitating the use of special mechanical equipment. An American official noted that the mediators understood the difficulty involved in locating the deceased, and said that "a joint mechanism is assisting in the search."
As previously reported, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is expected to arrive in the region, including Israel, early next week. His visit is intended to advance the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and to discuss the return of the deceased hostages still held in Gaza.
A of now, 19 deceased hostages remain in the Gaza Strip.
