Efforts to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip have become increasingly complicated, Palestinian factions say, after searches resumed following a brief pause that produced no results and with Palestinian groups yet to locate the remaining three bodies in their custody.
Fighters from the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, were searching on Friday for one body in the Zeitoun neighborhood south of Gaza City, accompanied by engineering equipment and a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, were simultaneously searching for another body north of Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, with an engineering team and Red Cross representatives.
Sources from Hamas and other Palestinian factions told Asharq Al Awsat that the operation has become more complex.
They said mediators and the United States were informed during ceasefire negotiations that the search for the bodies would face difficult conditions and that field commanders were struggling to reach at least four bodies.
The sources said military field leaderships had managed to pinpoint the location of one body, where attempts to retrieve it continue in the Nuseirat area.
Another search is underway in Zeitoun for a second body, while the location of the third remains unknown. They added there is limited confidence in the ability to recover the three remaining bodies, though one might be found north of Nuseirat.
According to the sources, Israel attempted to assassinate a commander overseeing the search for one hostage in Zeitoun, which would have further complicated efforts.
They said another body is believed to be in northern Gaza in an area heavily destroyed by Israeli forces, which carried out extensive bulldozing and multiple strikes, making recovery extremely difficult.
The factions say they remain in constant contact with mediators on this issue and all matters related to the ceasefire.
Mediators appear to understand the complexity, the sources added, while efforts continue to convince Washington of the situation. The United States, they said, has conveyed this to Israel, stressing that searches will continue but will require more time.
The sources stressed that Hamas and Palestinian factions are committed to the ceasefire agreement and to handing over the bodies in their possession.
Israel is divided over the issue, the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday.
A senior Israeli official said there was a real effort and a real difficulty in returning the bodies. Other Israeli sources said Israel understands that Hamas’s willingness to return them has decreased.
Israeli officials said that despite the situation, the three remaining cases were the most complicated of all the casualties.
A source familiar with the details said it was difficult to move forward, but he did not believe there was deception or deliberate stalling on Hamas’s end.
Israel insists the bodies be returned and says the issue is not closed. It has conveyed a message to Hamas that it will not leave any hostage in Gaza, as was the case after Operation Protective Edge in 2014, according to the daily.
Recovery of Palestinian bodies
This comes as Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Basal, announced that starting Saturday, teams would begin the first phase of retrieving the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes from under the rubble.
Basal said the initial work would begin in Maghazi camp in central Gaza, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Egyptian committee, the police and local municipalities.
Thousands of appeals have been received from families whose relatives remain trapped under collapsed buildings, urging authorities to expedite recovery, he added.
He noted that the operation will proceed despite the lack of heavy machinery after most Civil Defense equipment was destroyed by Israel.
Israeli forces continue to block the entry of heavy equipment needed for search and recovery. Basal said there was an urgent humanitarian need for DNA testing facilities because many victims remain unidentified.
Violations and casualties
The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said at least 67 children have been killed in conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire began on October 10.
Spokesman Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva that dozens more were wounded, adding that on average, nearly two children have been killed every day since the truce went into effect.
On the ground, Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and wounded six others in attacks carried out by ground vehicles and drones in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
Medical sources said a young man was killed by Israeli vehicle fire in the Al-Tineh area south of Khan Younis, and several bullets struck tents of displaced families in Al Mawasi.
Two Palestinians were also wounded by a drone in the Shujaiya neighborhood, while four children were injured when a quadcopter drone dropped an explosive in the Al Salatin area northwest of Beit Lahiya.
Several areas east and west of the yellow demarcation line set under the ceasefire agreement were hit by airstrikes, artillery fire and drone attacks. Explosions caused by demolitions were also reported, especially in Khan Younis, Gaza City and east of Al Bureij camp.
The Israeli army said it killed six fighters and arrested five others after they emerged from two tunnel openings in Rafah, which has been under Israeli control for months.
The army said the incident occurred east of the city when the men approached Israeli forces and posed a direct threat. Searches continue for others.
Army Radio said the incident happened in the Jneina neighborhood of eastern Rafah, where it said the remaining Hamas operatives are concentrated in the last tunnels.
It added that fighters have begun emerging gradually due to Israel’s operations there.
Israel’s public broadcaster said around 80 fighters remain trapped in the last tunnels in Rafah. It said Hamas had previously tried, through mediators, to secure a safe route for them to exit, but Israel insists they either surrender or be killed.
Channel 14 reported that Israeli forces operated near the tunnel area and that twelve fighters emerged. Seven were killed, four retreated into the tunnel, and one was arrested and transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation.
The channel said intelligence assessments indicate that around 30 fighters are still inside, including what is believed to be a battalion commander or deputy commander.
No Palestinian sources confirmed Israel’s account of the incident, though heavy gunfire was heard from Israeli helicopters targeting areas in Rafah.
