Trump says Hamas searching for hostage remains in 'gruesome' process

President Donald Trump has disclosed that Hamas is actively searching for deceased Israeli hostages throughout Gaza's devastated landscape, characterizing the recovery operation as a "gruesome process" involving excavation of collapsed structures and tunnel networks. The US leader confirmed Wednesday that Hamas is "absolutely" engaged in locating hostage remains beneath buildings destroyed during Israeli military operations and within the extensive underground passageways beneath Gaza's urban areas.

Recovery operations description

Trump detailed that recovery teams are "digging" through substantial rubble deposits where "they're finding a lot of bodies" that subsequently require identification and separation. The president noted the particular challenges presented by remains that "have been in there a long time" and those trapped beneath collapsed structures, emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of rubble removal operations necessary for body recovery.

Ceasefire implementation context

The hostage recovery efforts represent a crucial component of the 20-point ceasefire agreement Trump mediated between Israel and Hamas. The US president acknowledged successful return of all living hostages while underscoring the ongoing process of locating and repatriating deceased captives as an essential element of the arrangement's implementation phase.

Disarmament ultimatum

Trump reiterated his demand for Hamas to completely disarm according to the ceasefire terms, warning that failure to comply would prompt enforcement action. The president's comments reinforce the conditional nature of the current truce, which remains dependent on Hamas fulfilling its commitment to dismantle military capabilities as outlined in the US-brokered agreement.

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