Complex searches for deceased hostage bodies are progressing at four separate Gaza locations, involving Hamas operatives, Egyptian officials, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, while the IDF continues engaging Hamas cells attempting to breach Israeli-controlled areas.
Israel Hayom has learned that Israel is permitting unarmed Hamas operatives to access two sites where intelligence suggests hostage bodies were buried. One location sits in the Khan Younis region, and the other in east Gaza City, between the Shujaiyya and Daraj Tuffah neighborhoods. Hamas operatives indicate the sites, and an Egyptian team escorted by Red Cross representatives is present overseeing the searches.
Within the framework of the arrangement, Israel authorized the importation of tools and engineering equipment from Egypt for the search operations. Concurrently, searches are proceeding at two additional sites in Hamas-controlled areas, where Red Cross personnel and Egyptian teams are also present.
Hamas prevents body delivery to buy time
Israeli officials stress that intelligence information unequivocally demonstrates Hamas has immediate access to multiple additional deceased hostages, and the organization is withholding them to prolong negotiations. The evaluation is that Hamas is leveraging the delayed body delivery to consolidate its territorial control and reinforce its positions for continued negotiations.
Military sources conveyed that Hamas transmitted to the Red Cross multiple points where deceased hostages may have been placed. The Red Cross reached those designated points escorted by Hamas operatives, some of whom traversed the Yellow Line – the demarcation separating Israeli-controlled territory from Hamas-controlled zones.
IDF attacks Hamas cells emerging from tunnels
IDF soldiers continue engaging Hamas cells penetrating Israeli-controlled territory. This morning such an incident occurred deep in the territory, east of Khan Younis, likely involving a Hamas cell that had been in tunnels and surfaced for an attempted strike.
Hamas asserts it has no association with cells deep in the territory or with such attacks, but Israeli officials completely reject the assertion.
Arab media reporting indicated Red Cross and Hamas teams are in Rafah and are anticipated to be in Gaza City as well. Sources engaged with the details stated the Egyptians are taking part in two of the sites – presumably in zones not under direct IDF control. At this juncture, no further official details were furnished regarding the exact locations of the sites or the search outcomes acquired thus far.
