Israel denies Hamas claim that it can’t find deceased hostages; steps up efforts with international team

An international task force—comprising American, Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari representatives—has begun operations in Gaza, relying on intelligence supplied by Israel.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel announced Thursday that it will increase pressure on Hamas to return the bodies of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, as an international recovery team entered the Strip under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

The decision followed Hamas’s claim that it cannot locate additional remains without access to heavy machinery—an assertion Israeli officials called untrue.

A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that Hamas “has a double-digit number of hostages it can return,” rejecting the group’s excuses.

Channel 13 reported that an international task force—comprising American, Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari representatives—has begun operations in Gaza, relying on intelligence supplied by Israel.

Israeli officials believe Hamas is intentionally withholding bodies to gain leverage.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel informed mediators that Hamas likely knows the location of at least six additional bodies.

Among the options reportedly under consideration are delaying the reopening of the Rafah Crossing or restricting construction materials until further remains are returned.

Since the first stage of Trump’s US-brokered ceasefire took effect, Hamas has handed over nine bodies and released 20 living hostages.

Nineteen bodies are still missing. The agreement, signed in Egypt, required Hamas to return “all Israeli hostages, living and deceased” within 72 hours of Israel’s partial withdrawal, though it allowed for possible delays in retrieving remains trapped under debris.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation Thursday with his advisers and later spoke with President Trump, who, according to Israeli media reports, voiced support for Israel’s stance.

Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, told families that Hamas “will face greater pressure,” without revealing details.

In Washington, White House envoy Steve Witkoff reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the recovery mission, saying at the Holocaust Museum that “we will pursue the return of the bodies of the deceased until they all come home.”

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera aired footage that appeared to show Hamas operatives using bulldozers in Khan Younis to search for remains. Israeli officials maintain that many of the bodies can be recovered immediately, accusing Hamas of violating the Trump-brokered ceasefire by delaying their return.