Hamas offers to retrieve Israeli hostage bodies in Gaza zone

Hamas declared Saturday that its forces stand ready to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages located within a specific zone of the Gaza Strip known as the "yellow line." The armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, issued a statement calling on ceasefire mediators and the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide the heavy machinery and equipment needed to accelerate the recovery process across multiple locations simultaneously.

Defining the "Yellow Line"

The "yellow line" refers to the demarcation established under the October 10 ceasefire agreement, representing areas where Israeli forces have withdrawn. This non-physical boundary effectively divides the Gaza territory in half, running south of Gaza City and north of Khan Younis. Hamas framed its offer as an effort to "close this file" regarding the disputed fate of hostage remains that has complicated ceasefire negotiations.

Recent Handovers and Disputes

The announcement follows Friday's transfer of three unidentified bodies to Israel through the Red Cross. Hamas stated it proceeded with the handover despite Israel's refusal to accept DNA samples instead of complete remains, doing so "to block the enemy's claims" about delaying the process. However, Israeli media subsequently reported that forensic examination determined none of the three bodies belonged to listed Israeli hostages.

Ceasefire Stakes and Broader Context

The issue of hostage remains represents a critical obstacle to progressing beyond the first phase of the ceasefire. Israel has made the return of all hostage bodies a precondition for negotiating the second phase, which involves the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and plans for Gaza's reconstruction. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that 211 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, adding to the overwhelming toll of more than 68,500 deaths since the genocide started in October 2023.