Hamas says it will take time to return the bodies of the Israeli hostages, saying some are buried in destroyed tunnels and others under destroyed buildings.
On Thursday, Hamas claimed that the return of the bodies of Israeli hostages may take time, as some of them were buried in tunnels destroyed by Israel, and others are still under the rubble of buildings that Israel bombed and destroyed, adding that the movement is still committed to the Gaza Agreement and is keen to hand over all the bodies of hostages held in Gaza.
Hamas added that recovering the remaining bodies requires equipment to remove rubble, which is not currently available due to the ban imposed by Israel on the entry of such tools.
An Israeli official said that Israel will continue to refuse to allow a Turkish delegation of 81 rescue personnel and heavy equipment to enter the Gaza Strip until Hamas returns all the remains of deceased hostages that it can. Jerusalem Post Thursday.
Hamas terrorists and civilians from Gaza gather in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip. January 30, 2025. (Credit: Reuters/Mohamed Salem)
The bodies of the “hostage group” that Hamas can now return
There is a bunch of hostage bodies that Hamas can return now [and] Another source said: “There is another group who know its location, but they need equipment and help to recover it. There are some bodies that they do not really know where they are.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday: “We know for sure that Hamas could easily release a large number of hostages in accordance with the agreement. What they are doing now is a fundamental violation of this agreement.”
Amichai Stein contributed to this article.