By: The Trek News Desk
A new humanitarian effort has been launched in the war-torn Gaza Strip, as Israel has authorised teams from Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to enter the territory and begin searching for the bodies of Israeli hostages killed during the conflict.
The mission will operate beyond what Israel’s military calls the “Yellow Line”, a demarcation marking the limit of the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) withdrawal under the first stage of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Joint Humanitarian Mission Underway
Under this rare coordination, Egyptian search crews and ICRC humanitarian workers will use heavy machinery to clear rubble and locate remains.
Reports suggest that Hamas representatives have also been permitted limited access to the same area to assist in the identification and recovery of bodies.
According to official figures, Hamas has so far handed over 15 of 28 deceased Israeli hostages to Egyptian and ICRC teams. The ceasefire deal requires all bodies to be returned.
Hamas says the search is being slowed by the extent of destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes, which have buried many victims beneath collapsed buildings.
Trump Issues Stern Warning
US President and chief mediator Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday, urging Hamas to act swiftly:
“Hamas must return the bodies immediately, or the countries involved in this great peace effort will take action.”
Trump said he is “watching the situation very closely,” expressing hope that progress would be seen within 48 hours.
Diplomatic Balancing Act
The new Trump-brokered Gaza Peace Accord was signed earlier this month in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as key partners.
However, Israel has made it clear that any international peacekeeping presence in Gaza will require its explicit approval.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s position during a cabinet meeting:
“Israel will never compromise on its security. We alone will decide which nations may operate within Gaza.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that several countries have expressed interest in joining the peacekeeping mission, but Israel’s consent will determine participation.
Reports indicate that Israel has already objected to Turkey’s involvement.
Gaza’s Devastation and Humanitarian Struggle
According to UN estimates, nearly 84% of Gaza has been reduced to rubble after two years of relentless Israeli bombardment.
Hamas officials say many bodies remain trapped beneath destroyed structures, complicating recovery efforts even further.
Source: News Agencies
