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The Yellow Line Diplomacy

Egypt’s Role in the Search for Gaza’s Dead Captives

Sunday, 26 October 2025 17:16

Abstract

The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is being tested by the slow return of deceased hostages, prompting an unprecedented international intervention. Egypt has deployed technical teams and heavy machinery into the Gaza Strip, with Israeli approval, to assist in locating the remaining bodies amidst the widespread destruction. This humanitarian operation, which also involves the Red Cross, is a critical component of the US-brokered peace deal, the success of which hinges on the resolution of this deeply sensitive issue.

A Cease-fire Under Strain

The US-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on 10 October 2025, has brought a precarious pause to two years of unrelenting hostilities in the region8,9,11,13,15,16,22. The agreement, which forms the first phase of a larger peace framework, included a prisoner exchange, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid9,13,15,16. A central, and highly sensitive, component of this deal was the requirement for Hamas to return the remains of all deceased Israeli captives10,15,16. The initial agreement stipulated the return of 20 living and 28 deceased hostages who were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 202310,15,16. All 20 living hostages were released by 13 October15,16. However, the process of returning the bodies of the dead has proved significantly more difficult and has repeatedly threatened to unravel the truce8,9,15. As of 26 October 2025, Hamas had returned the remains of 15 hostages, leaving 13 bodies still unaccounted for within the enclave10,11,12,22. The delay in the return of these remains prompted Israel to briefly cut aid flows and restrict fuel imports, though the US administration later blocked a complete halt to humanitarian aid8,9,10. The cease-fire has been interrupted by intermittent violence, with both sides accusing the other of violations15,22. Israeli forces struck the central Nuseirat refugee camp on 25 October, claiming to target militants, while Hamas called the strike a clear violation of the agreement20,21,22. The war, which began in October 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 68,500 Palestinians and injuries to more than 170,300 others, according to the Gaza Health Ministry8,13,22.

The Egyptian Intervention

In a significant diplomatic and logistical move, Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip on 25 October 2025 to assist in the search for the remaining captives’ bodies11,12,14,17,20,21,22. This assistance, which included an excavator and bulldozers, was personally approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu10,14. The Israeli government spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, confirmed that Israel had permitted the Egyptian and Red Cross teams to enter the territory5,6,7. The teams were granted access to areas beyond the 'yellow line,' which delineates the Israeli military’s withdrawal zone in the Gaza Strip5,6,7. The Egyptian convoy, which included heavy construction machinery, entered southern Gaza through the Rafah border crossing11,17. This deployment is a direct result of international mediation efforts, involving the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, aimed at shoring up the fragile truce11,16,17,19. Hamas’s chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, stated that the Palestinian group had expanded its own search into new areas for the 13 remaining bodies on 26 October11,12,16,19,20,21,22. Hamas has consistently claimed that the search efforts are severely hampered by the massive destruction across the enclave, which has buried some bodies deep beneath the rubble, and a lack of specialised equipment11,12,15,16,22. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is operating in Gaza as a neutral intermediary, facilitating the return of remains at the request of the parties, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement10. The humanitarian nature of the mission is underscored by the fact that the return of the bodies is a deeply moral and political imperative for Israel, which has a long-standing commitment to bringing its fallen home14.

The Political Calculus of Recovery

The search for the bodies is not merely a humanitarian exercise; it is a critical political pressure point in the broader cease-fire negotiations. The agreement includes a reciprocal arrangement where Israel is to return 15 bodies of deceased Palestinians for every one body of a hostage returned by Hamas11,12,17,19,22. To date, Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians11,12,17,19,20,21. The slow pace of the exchange has led to accusations of stalling, with Israeli sources suggesting that Hamas is deliberately withholding information about the bodies’ locations to extend the cease-fire or gain political leverage10,14. US President Donald Trump publicly intervened, warning Hamas on 25 October that he was ‘watching very closely’ and expected the remaining bodies to be returned within 48 hours11,12,16,17,20,21,22. The President suggested that ‘other countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action’ if Hamas failed to comply, indicating the high-stakes nature of the recovery mission for the international mediators16. American officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been actively engaged in the region to ensure the agreement holds9,12,17,20,22. The US has also established a co-ordination centre with approximately 200 US troops working alongside the Israeli military and other delegations to plan for the stabilisation and reconstruction of Gaza12,17,19,20. The deployment of Egyptian heavy machinery, which Israel had initially resisted, signals a concession made under intense international pressure to maintain the momentum of the peace process10,14. The Israeli government’s initial position was that Hamas possessed the capability to return the bodies without external assistance10,14. The decision to allow the Egyptian technical team, described by the Prime Minister’s office as a ‘technical team’ going in ‘only to locate the slain hostages,’ highlights the delicate balance between humanitarian necessity and security concerns10,14. The search operations are taking place in areas like Khan Younis, where the scale of destruction is immense, validating Hamas’s claims about the difficulty of the task11,17. The success of this joint, internationally-backed search is viewed by mediators as essential to building confidence for the more complex second phase of the cease-fire, which includes the disarming of Hamas and the establishment of a new governing mechanism for Gaza13,15,22.

The Path to Post-Conflict Governance

The immediate humanitarian task of body recovery is inextricably linked to the long-term political objective of establishing a stable post-conflict Gaza. The phased cease-fire agreement, which took effect on 10 October, envisages the eventual rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas13,15. The second stage of the US-led peace framework, known as the '20-point plan,' calls for Hamas to decommission its weapons and for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to further withdraw15. Security responsibility is then intended to be progressively handed over to an International Stabilisation Force (ISF)15. The plan also includes the establishment of an interim technocratic government in Gaza, comprising Palestinian experts under the oversight of an international transitional body chaired by President Trump15. However, the Israeli Defence Minister, Yisrael Katz, has publicly stated that the demilitarisation of Gaza, specifically the destruction of the terror tunnels, remains the most important strategic objective for achieving victory13. Katz has instructed the IDF to continue demolitions in the part of the Gaza Strip remaining under Israeli control, known as the 'yellow zone,' to dismantle the tunnels13. This focus on military objectives alongside the humanitarian mission underscores the deep-seated disagreements and the inherent fragility of the current truce7,13,22. The international community, including the UN, continues to urge Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the famine-stricken enclave22. The search for the dead, therefore, serves as a microcosm of the entire peace process: a small, difficult, but necessary step that requires unprecedented co-operation between hostile parties and international guarantors to prevent a return to full-scale conflict18.

Conclusion

The entry of Egyptian technical teams and heavy equipment into Gaza, sanctioned by Israel and supported by international mediators, represents a critical, if belated, effort to stabilise the cease-fire11,14,18. The mission to locate the remaining 13 bodies of deceased captives is a test of political will and logistical capacity in a landscape devastated by war11,12,22. The success of this humanitarian operation is essential to maintaining the momentum of the US-brokered peace deal, which is already under immense strain from mutual accusations of violations and the sheer complexity of the post-conflict political landscape9,15,22. The ability of the international coalition to ensure the full return of the dead will determine whether the current pause in fighting can be leveraged into a more durable political settlement for the future of the Gaza Strip16,17,19.

References

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  2. Current time information in غزة, PS.

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  5. Israel allows Red Cross, Egyptian teams to recover hostage bodies in Gaza - Xinhua

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  6. Israel allows Red Cross, Egyptian teams into Gaza as search for hostage bodies widens

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  8. Gaza: Saving lives amid a fragile truce | NRC

    Provides context on the fragile nature of the cease-fire, the date it was approved (10 October), the initial Israeli response to delays in body return (cutting aid), and the Gaza Health Ministry casualty figures since October 2023.

  9. How the Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Deal Got Done - Time Magazine

    Details the US-brokered cease-fire, its fragility, the two-phase deal, the exchange of hostages for prisoners, and the role of US officials like Vice President Vance.

  10. Red Cross seen aiding Hamas in search of hostages' bodies in Rafah area

    Confirms the number of deceased hostages before the cease-fire (28), the number returned (15), the number of living hostages released (20), the date of the Hamas attack (October 7, 2023), the approval of the Egyptian team by Netanyahu, and the role of the ICRC as a neutral intermediary.

  11. Hamas expands search for remaining Israeli hostages' bodies as Egypt joins effort

    Details the entry of Egyptian heavy equipment (excavator, bulldozers) on Saturday, 25 October, the number of remaining bodies (13), the exchange ratio (15 Palestinian bodies for 1 hostage body), the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), and Hamas's claim of difficulty due to destruction.

  12. Hamas expands search for bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza - Yahoo News Canada

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and equipment on Saturday, the number of remaining bodies (13), the exchange ratio, the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), Hamas's claim of difficulty, and President Trump's 48-hour warning.

  13. Israeli defense minister orders army to continue demolitions in Gaza - Anadolu Ajansı

    Provides details on the phased cease-fire, the goal of rebuilding Gaza and establishing a new governing mechanism without Hamas, the Gaza Health Ministry casualty figures, and Defense Minister Katz's instruction to continue demolitions in the 'yellow zone' to destroy tunnels.

  14. Israel allows Egyptian teams to enter Gaza, locate hostages | The Jerusalem Post

    Confirms the Israeli government's approval of Egypt's request for equipment and personnel, the entry of the team, and the Israeli security official's statement that Hamas is 'playing games and stalling for time'.

  15. The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question: Quarterly Open Debate

    Provides details on the first phase of the cease-fire (20 living, 28 deceased hostages, 2,000 Palestinian detainees, partial IDF withdrawal), the release of all living hostages on 13 October, the number of deceased hostages returned (15), the US-led multinational task force, and the second stage of the '20-point plan' (disarming Hamas, ISF, technocratic government).

  16. Trump: Hamas must return captives bodies quickly or 'Great Peace countries will take action'

    Confirms the US-brokered cease-fire date (earlier this month), the mediators (Egypt, US, Qatar, Turkey), the number of living captives released (20), the number of bodies returned (15), Hamas's claim of difficulty, President Trump's 48-hour warning, and the threat of action by 'other countries involved in this GREAT PEACE'.

  17. Hamas expands search for bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza | The Herald

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and heavy equipment on Saturday, the search in Khan Younis, the exchange ratio, the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), and the involvement of US officials and troops in the co-ordination centre.

  18. Egypt Aids Search for Bodies of Dead Captives in Gaza ...Middle East - PRESSBEE

    Used to confirm the core premise of the article: Egypt's assistance is part of an international effort to reinforce the fragile cease-fire.

  19. Hamas expands search for hostages' bodies in Gaza as Egypt joins effort - National Herald

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and heavy equipment on Saturday, the exchange ratio, the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), and the involvement of US officials and troops in the co-ordination centre.

  20. Hamas expands search for hostages' bodies in Gaza - CityNews Toronto

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and heavy equipment on Saturday, the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), the number of bodies returned by Hamas (18), the number of remaining bodies (13), President Trump's 48-hour warning, and the Israeli strike on Nuseirat refugee camp.

  21. Hamas expands search for bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza - Darlington & Stockton Times

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and heavy equipment on Saturday, the number of Palestinian bodies returned (195), the number of bodies returned by Hamas (18), the number of remaining bodies (13), President Trump's 48-hour warning, and the Israeli strike on Nuseirat refugee camp.

  22. Hamas expands search for the remains of hostages in Gaza - WFTV

    Confirms the entry of Egyptian team and heavy equipment on Saturday, the number of bodies returned by Hamas (15), the number of remaining bodies (13), the exchange ratio, the Gaza Health Ministry casualty figures, the fragility of the cease-fire, and the Israeli strike on Nuseirat.