Gaza, 27 October (H.S.): Egyptian and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) teams entered Gaza on Monday to begin a search for the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The operation, authorized by Israel, is a component of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at resolving outstanding issues from the conflict.

The Israeli government has permitted the teams to operate beyond the yellow line, the boundary of the area controlled by Israeli forces in Gaza. This access will allow them to use heavy equipment like excavators and trucks to search the rubble of buildings where Hamas claims the remaining bodies are buried.

Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, the militant group Hamas is required to transfer the remains of all 28 deceased hostages. To date, only 15 have been returned. Hamas has cited difficulties in locating the bodies amidst the extensive destruction in Gaza.

The delay prompted a stern warning from US President Donald Trump, who stated that if Hamas does not return the bodies quickly… the other countries involved in this great peace will take action.The development occurred as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, reiterated Israel’s sovereignty over the composition of any future international force in Gaza.

We are in control of our security, he declared, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are considered key partners in the broader Trump-brokered peace plan.The ICRC continues to play a vital role as an intermediary, facilitating the transfer of captives—both living and deceased—from Hamas to the Israel Defense Forces, as Hamas does not engage in direct handovers with Israeli authorities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar