Israel grants access for Red Cross and Egyptian teams to aid hostage search

People celebrate return of Israeli hostage, Oct 25, 2025
Reuters

The Israeli government announced on Sunday (October 26) that Egyptian and Red Cross teams have been granted permission to enter Gaza to search for the remains of deceased hostages. The teams were allowed to move beyond the so-called “yellow line,”.

“This is a technical team only, and none of these personnel are in the military,” Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told international media in Jerusalem. “The team is using between two and three excavator machines and two to three trucks to search for our deceased hostages.”

According to Bedrosian, the decision was made “in full cooperation with Israel,” following talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s team and the head of Egyptian intelligence in Jerusalem last week. One of the main agenda points, she said, was the return of remaining hostages.

Bedrosian added that Israel will retain “overall security control” in Gaza. “The Prime Minister has said it will be done the easy way or the hard way,” she stated. “Israel remains extremely committed to upholding its side of the agreement — Gaza will be demilitarized, and Hamas will have no part in governing the Palestinian people.”

The latest development comes amid ongoing efforts to implement elements of a fragile agreement concerning hostages and post-war arrangements in the Gaza Strip.

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