Hamas Expands Search for the Remains of Hostages in Gaza

People gather around vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, on October 26, 2025. Search operations are underway in the Gaza Strip to locate and recover the bodies of Israeli captives as part of the cease-fire and prisoner-hostage exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. Representatives from Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and the ICRC met in Khan Yunis to coordinate the recovery efforts. (Photo by Abdelrahman Rashad / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by ABDELRAHMAN RASHAD/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

CAIRO (AP) — Hamas says it is expanding its search for the remains of hostages still left in Gaza. Sunday’s announcement came a day after Egypt sent a team with heavy equipment to assist in the work. Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Hamas is expected to return all Israeli hostage remains as soon as possible. Israel has agreed to return 15 bodies of Palestinians for each one. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Saturday he was “watching very closely” to ensure Hamas returns more bodies within the next 48 hours. The fragile ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10.