Israel permits Hamas to search for hostage remains in army-held Gaza areas

Israel has authorized Hamas personnel to access areas under Israeli military control in Gaza to search for the remains of hostages, according to Israeli media reports on Monday. The Palestinian group is operating in coordination with International Red Cross and Egyptian teams beyond the established "yellow line" that demarcates current Israeli military positions from previously occupied territories.

Coordinated Search Operation

Israeli Channel 12, citing security sources, reported that Hamas has been working with international teams for the past 24 hours to locate hostage remains in areas still occupied by the Israeli army. The coordinated effort follows information exchanges between Israel and Hamas through mediators over the weekend, aimed at accelerating the identification and recovery process for missing individuals amid the ongoing ceasefire implementation.

Ceasefire Agreement Context

The search operation occurs within the framework of the October 10 ceasefire agreement's first phase, which has already resulted in Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 16 others. Palestinian authorities indicate that 12 hostage remains remain unaccounted for within the Gaza territory. Israel confirmed Sunday that it had permitted Red Cross and Egyptian teams to operate beyond the "yellow line" to facilitate the humanitarian mission.

Broader Post-Conflict Arrangements

The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for Gaza's reconstruction and establishment of a new governing structure that excludes Hamas from future administration. The search for hostage remains represents one component of the complex post-conflict arrangements being implemented following hostilities that Palestinian authorities report have resulted in over 68,500 fatalities and 170,300 injuries since October 2023.