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An Egyptian convoy carrying trucks and heavy machinery has entered Gaza to assist in recovering the remains of Israeli hostages believed to be buried beneath rubble across the territory. Footage from AFP showed the vehicles operating in Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, after crossing into the enclave overnight.
While the Israeli military did not immediately confirm the development, The Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally authorised the entry of the Egyptian team and several engineering vehicles to support the search operation. On Saturday night, Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News channel announced that the convoy was en route to Gaza, while two Egyptian military officials confirmed to AFP that it had been waiting at the Kerem Shalom crossing for clearance.
This effort follows weeks of negotiations over the recovery of hostages’ bodies as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Under the deal, Hamas was expected to return all 48 remaining hostages — both alive and dead — in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel. So far, only 15 of the 28 confirmed dead hostages have been recovered, with the rest believed to be trapped beneath the ruins of bombed-out areas. Hamas has urged for specialised equipment and external assistance to locate the remaining bodies.
Earlier this month, Turkey had also offered to assist in the search, with Ankara sending 81 rescuers to Egypt on October 17 to await approval to enter Gaza. However, the Turkish team was never granted clearance, reportedly due to Israeli objections to Turkish involvement in the enclave.
