Red Cross teams dig through Gaza’s destroyed neighborhoods as search for missing Israeli hostages’ bodies intensifies amid pressure from families and global mediators

In the aftermath of a fragile ceasefire, the search for closure in Gaza has turned into an emotional and logistical nightmare.

Teams from the Red Cross are combing through the ruins of the war-torn territory, trying to locate the bodies of hostages who never made it home.

Despite Israel’s warning to Hamas that all remains must be returned by tonight, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has cautioned that the process could take much longer than anyone hoped.

A Search That Could Take Weeks

According to ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon, recovering bodies in Gaza’s wreckage is an enormous challenge.

Speaking from Geneva, he described the operation as a “massive effort” that could take days or even weeks to complete.

“The search for human remains is obviously a much bigger challenge than having the people alive being released,” he said, emphasizing that locating every missing person must be treated as a top priority.

Difficulties in Gaza’s Devastated Landscape

The devastation across Gaza has made the recovery operation painstakingly slow.

With entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, many of the deceased are believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings.

The ICRC has deployed 23 additional staff members, along with body bags and refrigerated vehicles, to handle remains respectfully.

The organization also reminded all parties involved to ensure that every recovery and transfer be done “with dignity and humanity.”

A Fragile Exchange Under Strain

Earlier this week, Hamas released the last of the living Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal brokered with the help of the U.S. and other international mediators.

In return, Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian detainees, marking what U.S. President Donald Trump declared as the end of the two-year-long conflict.

However, despite this symbolic closure, only four coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages have been returned so far — leaving over 20 still missing.

Families Left in Anguish

For the bereaved families, the wait has become unbearable.

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum called Hamas’s failure to return the bodies a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire agreement and urged the Israeli government to act swiftly.

“We expect our government and the mediators to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice,” the group said.

Their letter to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff pleaded for him to “pull out every stop and leave no stone unturned” in ensuring that all remains are returned home.

The Trump Peace Deal Under Pressure

The inability to recover all the bodies has put Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan at risk.

One of the deal’s conditions required Hamas to release every hostage, dead or alive, within 72 hours of Israel’s compliance.

With several bodies still missing and presumed buried beneath Gaza’s debris, observers fear that the plan could unravel before lasting peace even begins to take root.

An International Task Force Steps In

In response to the escalating tension, a multinational task force involving Israel, the U.S., Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt has been formed to assist in locating the missing bodies.

This joint effort will work alongside the Red Cross once the four already recovered hostages are fully identified.

The task force aims to bring closure to families still waiting for word on their loved ones, but officials admit that the effort will be both complex and dangerous.

The Identities Behind the Numbers

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the identities of the four deceased hostages recently returned by Hamas.

Among them were 26-year-old Israeli citizen Guy Iluz and 22-year-old Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi.

The other two, identified in Israeli media as Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Perez, also lost their lives during the war’s early months.

Joshi’s story struck a chord worldwide — he had only been in Israel for three weeks, taking part in an agricultural training program when he was captured.

Reports suggest he heroically tried to protect his friends by catching a grenade thrown by Hamas militants before being taken hostage.

The IDF believes he was killed in the early phase of the war.

Iluz, meanwhile, was among the festivalgoers abducted during the Nova music festival massacre.

Despite surviving his initial injuries, he reportedly died in captivity due to the lack of medical care.

Painful Truths and Lost Hope

Some families, who had held onto hope of reunion, were shattered to learn that their loved ones were among the deceased.

As Israel weighs its next moves — including reconsidering the reopening of the Rafah border crossing — emotions are running high.

Officials fear that the delays in returning bodies could reignite tensions and threaten the fragile truce.

What Lies Ahead

For now, the Red Cross and the new international task force continue to search amid Gaza’s ruins, racing against time and deteriorating conditions.

While four families have finally received the painful closure of knowing where their loved ones are, dozens more remain in agonizing uncertainty.

The world watches closely, hoping that every missing person — living or dead — will eventually be brought home with the dignity they deserve.