GAZA – A convoy of Egyptian trucks and heavy machinery entered the Gaza Strip overnight to assist in locating the remains of Israeli hostages, AFP footage confirmed on Sunday. The vehicles were seen operating in Khan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza devastated by months of conflict.
According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved the entry of the Egyptian team and several engineering vehicles into Gaza for the operation. The Times of Israel stated that the move was coordinated to help recover the bodies of missing hostages as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
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Earlier, Egyptian state-linked Al-Qahera News reported that the team was en route to Gaza, while two Egyptian military sources confirmed to AFP that the convoy was waiting at the Kerem Shalom crossing for final clearance.
Under the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, Hamas had agreed to return all 48 remaining hostages, both alive and deceased, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, only 15 of the 28 dead hostages have been recovered so far, with the rest believed to be buried under rubble across the war-torn region.
Meanwhile, a Turkish rescue team of 81 personnel has been awaiting approval in Egypt since October 17 to join the search operation, but Israel has rejected Turkish involvement, citing political concerns.