Over 12,000 bodies remain trapped under rubble in Gaza

Hamas was unable to hand over the bodies of some Israeli captives due to an estimated 12,000 bodies being trapped under the rubble in the Gaza Strip and Israel refused the entry of heavy machinery for recovery effrots, said the head of the enclave’s Government Media Office. 

Addressing a news conference at the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, Salama Maroof stated that Israel’s refusal to allow the entry of heavy machinery into the Gaza Strip was hampering recovery. 

He added that Hamas would not be able to return the bodies of some slain Israeli captives because of the restriction. 

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Earlier on Thursday, Palestinian medics and rescue teams recovered 28 bodies from the rubble in the Gaza Strip, bringing the overall death toll from Israel’s genocide war since October 2023 to 47,583. 

Hamas is set to hand over three Israeli captives on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian hostages in the latest stage of the ceasefire deal aimed at opening the way to ending the 15-month war in Gaza. 

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida said his group would release “three prisoners” on Saturday, identifying them as Or Levy, Eliyahu Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami.   

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In exchange for three Israelis, 183 Palestinians will be released on Saturday, including 18 serving life sentences, 54 long sentences, and 111 detained from Gaza during the war, according to Hamas officials.