Israel Lets Hamas Cross Gaza Line to Retrieve Hostage Bodies
President Trump gives Hamas 48-hour deadline to return all hostage bodies.
With the U.S.-brokered Gaza deal in its third week, Israel has permitted Hamas to cross the ceasefire line in Gaza to retrieve the bodies of hostages, including that of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier kidnapped and murdered by the terrorist group eleven years ago.
Hamas terrorists, accompanied by the Red Cross teams, have crossed into the “yellow line,” which demarcates the area under Israeli military control in Gaza. “Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been permitted to search for the bodies of deceased hostages beyond the “yellow line” demarcating the Israeli military’s pullback in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Sunday,” Reuters reported.
Gaza’s terrorist groups say the Red Cross is meeting with the al-Qassam Brigades’ ‘Shadow Unit’ to locate a hostage in Gaza.
The fact that the Red Cross is the only group in direct contact with Hamas tells you everything you need to know about this “humanitarian organization.” pic.twitter.com/3ivdBoSwch
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) October 26, 2025
The decision to allow Hamas beyond the ceasefire line is a sensitive one. On Sunday, Hamas terrorists attacked IDF troops in multiple locations across the Yellow Line, killing two soldiers and wounding three others.
Reports: Israel allowed Hאmas to enter the yellow zone along with the Red Cross to search for Hadar Goldin Z”L and probably other deceased hostages . pic.twitter.com/3fu708JgMd
— RealPalestina(א"י) 🇮🇱 (@LollllllaJR) October 26, 2025
The operation to retrieve the bodies is centered around Khan Younis and Rafah areas of Southern Gaza. The terrorist group that massacred over 1,200 innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023, and took 251 men, women, and children hostages, still holds the bodies of thirteen captives.
Arutz Sheva/Israel National News cited Arab media sources, saying “Hamas gave the Red Cross maps and locations of note where the body of fallen IDF soldier Hadar Goldin is apparently located.”
“Searches for his body are now focused in Rafah,” the news outlet added.
It is worth noting that Hamas abducted Lieutenant Hadar Goldin near Rafah. On August 1, 2014, hours after Israel agreed to a ceasefire following a 6-week-long Gaza conflict, Hamas terrorists emerged from tunnels and tried to abduct a group of Israeli soldiers. The terrorists managed to drag Hadar into the tunnel and killed two of his fellow soldiers. The IDF conducted a massive manhunt in the Rafah area, with soldiers bravely entering terror tunnels in search of Hadar. Days later, the 23-year-old soldier was declared dead. (Read our coverage of Hadar’s abduction that time).
💔
For more than 10 years, the parents of Adar Goldin have been waiting for his body to be returned for a deserving burial in Israel. pic.twitter.com/sKtWxU03R1
— Yisrael official 🇮🇱 🎗 (@YisraelOfficial) October 26, 2025
The Associated Press reported on Sunday:
Hamas has expanded its search for bodies of hostages in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian group said Sunday, a day after Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to help retrieve them.
Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, Hamas is expected to return the remains of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible. Israel has agreed to return 15 bodies of Palestinians for each one.
[Gaza residents] watched the Egyptian equipment claw through the sand near badly damaged buildings in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Hamas has returned the remains of 15 hostages but hasn’t handed over any in five days. (…)
Under the Trump peace plan, Hamas was obliged to return all hostage bodies within 72 hours of the ceasefire coming into effect. With the ceasefire well within its third week, President Donald Trump, on Saturday, gave Hamas a 48-hour deadline to return all the bodies.
“Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not,” President Trump posted on Truth Social. “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.
“We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING. Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/bz90dkmV3D
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 25, 2025
There is widespread skepticism in Israel over Hamas’s claims that it cannot locate the hostage bodies after two years of fighting. “Families of the fallen have voiced frustration, telling American officials in recent meetings that they believe Hamas is “bluffing” and has the ability to return the remains, but that Israel is not applying sufficient pressure,” Israel’s Ynetnews reported.
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Comments
Why is it that Hamas officials cannot appear on camera to respond to questions and accusations?
Because there’s good odds any camera pointed at them is actually a bomb.
Where was the Red Cross when the hostages were alive?
“You missed your deadline. Here’s a new deadline. Don’t miss this one, or we’ll give you another one!”
“Hamas terrorists attacked IDF troops in multiple locations across the Yellow Line, killing two soldiers and wounding three others.”
I firmly believe that there should be a 100,000 to one kill ratio for each dead or severely injured Israeli.