Hamas knows locations of all remaining hostages – report

Hamas claims it faces significant challenges in recovering remains of four last hostages, while Israeli officials say the terror group has information on the whereabouts of the slain captives.

By World Israel News Staff

Hamas has information regarding the locations of the four remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip, Israel believes, despite claims by the terror group that it is struggling to retrieve the captives’ bodies.

On Wednesday, Hamas officials told Saudi news outlets that the group was facing “significant challenges” in finding the remains of the four slain hostages.

Nevertheless, according to reports by i24NEWS and Al Jazeera, Hamas forces are slated to conduct additional joint search operations with teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Israeli-controlled territory in Gaza.

The Saudi-owned, London-based Asharq al-Awsat quoted Palestinian sources who said that one of the four remaining hostage bodies is being held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, with another held directly by Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

Two others are likely buried on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, which was established in Gaza last month.

Palestinian sources cited in the report blamed “Israeli restrictions” on Hamas searches on the east side of the Yellow Line for the delays in retrieving the hostage bodies.

Israeli officials speaking with the country’s national broadcaster, Kan, placed the onus on Hamas, claiming that the terror group has detailed information on the whereabouts of all four hostage bodies, including those held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The officials said Hamas intransigence, not Israeli restrictions, was to blame for the delays, and urged greater diplomatic and military pressure on the terror group to return the remaining hostage bodies.

“They must all be brought back – down to the very last one,” the officials said.