Egypt, ICRC teams begin search for hostage bodies in Gaza

New Delhi, Oct 27: Israeli authorities have allowed teams from Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to enter areas of Gaza controlled by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to search for bodies of missing hostages.

According to Israeli officials, the teams are permitted to operate beyond the “yellow line,” marking the boundary to which Israeli forces withdrew under the first stage of a US-brokered ceasefire deal.

Egyptian and ICRC teams are using excavators and trucks to recover remains from heavily damaged areas.

Israeli media reported that members of Hamas have also been allowed to assist in the search effort under ICRC supervision.

So far, Hamas has handed over 15 of 28 deceased hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement, which requires it to transfer all bodies to international authorities.

The arrangement follows a broader peace plan signed earlier this month in Sharm el-Sheikh, with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey as key mediators.

The ICRC continues to coordinate the transfer of hostages and remains between Hamas and Israeli forces.

The United Nations estimates that more than 80 percent of Gaza has been reduced to rubble after years of conflict, complicating the recovery process.