Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Israeli government has granted limited permission for representatives of Hamas to enter the so-called “Yellow Zone” in the Gaza Strip an area separating Israeli and Palestinian-controlled territories to search for the remains of Israeli hostages believed to have been killed during the conflict.
According to a report published Sunday by The Times of Israel, the move was made under an arrangement involving Egyptian and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) teams, who are also participating in the search operations. A spokesperson for the Israeli government confirmed that Hamas representatives were allowed access to areas currently under Israel Defense Forces (IDF) control in Gaza, under strict coordination with international observers.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported Monday that the approval covers several locations within the Yellow Zone, not only Rafah, as previously believed. Hamas search teams were reportedly seen in the Shejaiya district an area under direct Israeli military control and in Khan Younis, where operations are being closely monitored by both Egyptian mediators and the Red Cross.
Sources cited by Israeli media said the decision reflects an effort to locate the remains of the 13 remaining hostages who are presumed dead. Hamas has reportedly claimed that it has not yet been able to identify the locations of all the bodies and has not handed over any remains since last Tuesday. However, Israeli officials insist the group is withholding information in violation of the ceasefire agreement reached on October 9.
Government spokespersons told Israeli media that Hamas “knows the whereabouts of some of the hostages’ bodies,” and accused the group of deliberately delaying the handover process. “Israel is confident that Hamas has the ability to return more of the remains,” an official said. “If it made a genuine effort, it could recover and deliver them quickly.”
In parallel, the Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that the IDF is also conducting searches for the remains of hostages in the areas it controls in Gaza. An Israeli security official informed the families of the deceased captives that the searches are being guided by intelligence assessments.
The ICRC, which has been serving as a neutral intermediary between Israel and Hamas, confirmed that its teams are working on the ground in coordination with both parties. “The International Committee of the Red Cross is currently operating in Gaza as a neutral intermediary, at the request of both sides, to facilitate the recovery of the remains of hostages who are no longer alive, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement,” the organization said in a statement. “To ensure the safety of those involved, we will not comment further at this stage.”
Israeli officials have also briefed visiting U.S. officials on the ongoing efforts to recover the remains. During a recent meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly cited the example of soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body has been missing since the 2014 Gaza war, as evidence of the challenges Israel faces in locating and retrieving the remains of fallen soldiers and captives.
Israeli media reports indicate that the government knows the locations of most of the 13 remaining bodies, except for four, which remain unaccounted for. The issue continues to stir strong emotions in Israel, where the return of hostages both alive and dead has become one of the most pressing and politically sensitive issues since the escalation of the conflict.
The limited cooperation now taking place in the Yellow Zone, while fragile, represents one of the few instances of coordination between Israeli forces, Hamas, and international mediators since hostilities began. However, analysts caution that mistrust between the parties remains deep, and the progress of recovery efforts will depend on sustained adherence to the ceasefire terms and continued international oversight.
