KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP:
The Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced on Sunday that it had located the remains of an Israeli hostage who was killed in Gaza, saying the body would be returned later today if “field conditions are suitable.”
“The al-Qassam Brigades found the body of an Israeli prisoner during ongoing search operations,” the group said in a statement, adding that any Israeli military escalation could obstruct the process.
“We emphasize that any Zionist aggression or disruption in the field will hinder search and recovery efforts, delaying the occupation’s retrieval of its dead,” the statement read.
The announcement comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, under which recovery operations and potential exchanges are being coordinated through mediators.
There has been no immediate response from the Israeli military, though reports indicate ongoing efforts to locate hostages and missing persons in the southern Gaza Strip.
The development highlights the human cost and uncertainty surrounding the war’s aftermath — as families on both sides continue to wait, hoping for closure after a year of relentless conflict
