Egypt says Gaza evacuation dependent on Hamas returning hostages’ bodies

Egypt has warned that the evacuation of wounded and sick Palestinians from Gaza will only proceed after Hamas returns the bodies of all Israeli hostages who were killed, local authorities said.

Khaled Megawer, Governor of Egypt’s North Sinai Governorate, told TASS that it is unlikely patients can be evacuated until the hostages’ bodies are recovered. “I don’t think we will be able to evacuate the sick and wounded until Hamas reveals the bodies of all deceased Israelis,” he said.

Megawer added that, once possible, patients will be treated in hospitals across North Sinai, with some potentially transferred to other governorates or the Egyptian capital, depending on their condition.

He also noted that the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will be monitored by Palestinian National Authority security forces and staff from the European Union mission.

By Vugar Khalilov