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Israeli intelligence says 13 deceased hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 10 believed to be held by Hamas, some hidden in reinforced tunnels.
By United with Israel Staff
A Red Cross team is expected to arrive Sunday evening in the “yellow line” area east of Gaza City to assist in locating the bodies of Israeli hostages still held by the Hamas terror group, Al Jazeera reported.
The development follows President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas to immediately return the slain hostages, amid growing frustration over the terror organization’s ongoing violations of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
At the same time, an Egyptian delegation entered Gaza on Saturday with heavy engineering equipment to help in the search operation. An Israeli security official confirmed the move, saying, “The team and the machinery entered the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing efforts to recover the hostages and the fallen.”
According to Israeli intelligence, 13 deceased hostages are still being held in Gaza. Hamas reportedly does not know the whereabouts of four or five of them, but Israeli officials believe the group has access to at least 10 of the bodies, some of which are hidden inside tunnel walls reinforced with concrete.
IDF Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder shared intelligence with American officials last week detailing possible burial sites, which was later relayed to mediators involved in the ceasefire process.
Israeli media reported that Jerusalem reluctantly approved the entry of the foreign team into Gaza after “pressure from Washington,” as the U.S. administration works to prevent an escalation following Trump’s threat.
Last night, Trump issued a direct warning to Hamas, saying, “Hamas needs to return the bodies of the hostages. I will be watching closely over the next 48 hours.”
The president, who landed Sunday in Malaysia for a regional peace summit, repeatedly referenced the Middle East ceasefire, saying, “If the ceasefire doesn’t hold, it will be because of Hamas.”
He added, “Dealing with Hamas will not be complicated; it will be very quick. They say they killed gang members — I hope that’s true. They gave us their word, so I think it will hold. And if not, they will have a very big problem.”
Hamas’s stalling over the return of the hostages’ bodies once again reveals its barbaric character.
The group that massacred civilians on October 7 now desecrates the dead, using their remains as bargaining chips. It is a reminder that Hamas’s war was never about liberation but rather fueled by hatred and a total disregard for human life.
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