Egyptian engineering teams have entered Gaza to search for the remains of Israeli captives under a ceasefire agreement, as Gaza’s death toll surpasses 68,000 and living conditions continue to deteriorate.
A convoy of Egyptian trucks and engineering vehicles carrying heavy machinery entered Gaza early on Sunday to assist in locating the remains of Israeli captives, according to the Agence France-Presse.
The vehicles were seen operating in the southern city early in the morning. The Israeli military has not confirmed the convoy’s entry, but The Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved the arrival of the Egyptian team and its equipment.
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On Saturday night, Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News confirmed the mission’s departure for Gaza. Two Egyptian military sources told AFP that the convoy had reached the Karem Abu Salem crossing that evening, awaiting final authorization before proceeding.
Turkish Rescuers still Blocked
Earlier this month, a Turkish official said that an 81-member rescue team sent by Ankara to assist in the same recovery effort remained stranded in Egypt, as Israel objected to any Turkish participation.
Under the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian Resistance and Israel, the Palestinian movement committed to returning all 48 remaining captives, both living and deceased, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
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So far, only 15 of the 28 deceased captives have been returned. Hamas has since appealed for international help to recover the remaining bodies buried under the rubble.
Rising Death Toll
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Saturday that 19 Palestinians were killed over the past 48 hours—four by direct Israeli targeting and 15 whose bodies were recovered. Seven others were injured.
Official figures indicate that since October 7, 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 68,519 Palestinians and injured 170,382.
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Since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, 2025, Gaza has recorded 93 additional deaths, 324 injuries, and 464 bodies recovered.
UN satellite imagery shows that 83% of Gaza City’s structures have been destroyed, leaving more than 81,000 homes damaged. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said thousands of Palestinians remain displaced and “sleeping out in the open amid severe shortages of food and shelter.”
(PC, Al Mayadeen)
