Egypt transferred four heavy engineering vehicles into the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing to assist in locating the remains of 13 Israeli hostages who have not yet been recovered, Walla reported.
The Qatari network Al Araby TV reported that International Committee of the Red Cross vehicles entered the Rafah area to take part in the effort.
Israeli security officials told Walla that Hamas knows where many of the bodies are and is stalling, despite commitments under current understandings.
If the group does not have precise locations for some of the remains, the officials said, it could use Israeli intelligence to expedite the process, but is choosing to “drag things out” to gain time.
The Egyptian step followed Israeli consideration reported Saturday night to allow a small Egyptian technical team into the Strip to help with excavation and recovery. The move also came amid American and Israeli pressure on Hamas to deliver on the return of the fallen.
IDF offensive action in Gaza
On Saturday, the IDF struck a Palestinian Islamic Jihad vehicle in the Nuseirat refugee camp that the army said was preparing to attack Israeli forces, in what Walla described as a signal of readiness should the agreement not progress.
Separately, the IDF has been operating in areas under its control, about 54% of the Strip, to locate and demolish tunnels, the outlet reported.
Ghazi Hamad, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen last week that Israel’s campaign has “changed how the Gaza Strip looks,” claiming that many of those who guarded the bodies had been killed and that the remains are scattered in multiple locations, some under rubble.
“Hamas is committed to returning all hostages, living and deceased,” he said, adding that heavy equipment is required for excavation and recovery.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday set what he called a deadline for Hamas after meeting the Emir of Qatar.
“If the ceasefire does not hold, it will be Hamas’s fault, and it will be quite simple to destroy them,” he said, adding that an international force is now being assembled and that Qatar would send troops if needed.
In a post on Truth Social after the meeting, Trump wrote: “We have a very strong peace in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance to be lasting. Hamas will have to begin returning the remains of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other nations involved in this great peace will take action.”
He added that some of the bodies are difficult to reach, but said others could be returned immediately, calling for progress within 48 hours.