Turkey to Assist in Recovering Remains in Gaza
GAZA - Turkey is deploying a team to assist in the recovery of remains in Gaza, as the search continues for the bodies of hostages held by Hamas. Eighty-one members of AFAD, Turkey’s disaster and emergency management agency, are already on the ground, operating under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The effort comes as Hamas has handed over the remains of hostages to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement, with a commitment to return 28 bodies. As of Thursday, Israel has identified the remains of nine hostages returned between Monday and Wednesday – Inbar Hayman and Mohammad al-Atrash among them – while confirming one remains handed over on Tuesday was not that of a hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he is “determined to get the return” of all remaining remains, despite warnings from his Minister of Defense regarding a potential resumption of offensive operations in the gaza Strip. The recovery and extraction of remains is expected to be a complex undertaking, requiring “considerable effort and special equipment,” according to Hamas officials.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing, intended for the passage of peopel only, has been delayed pending completion of necessary preparations by Israeli and Egyptian authorities. A date for reopening has not yet been announced.
