Hamas says bodies of two Israeli hostages recovered in Gaza

On October 29, Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said it had recovered the bodies of two Israeli hostages, Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, during search operations in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement carried by the group’s media wing, Al-Qassam said its fighters found the bodies on October 28 as part of ongoing search and excavation efforts in the enclave, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Earlier in the day, the Brigades reported discovering the body of one captive inside a tunnel in southern Gaza, but said the planned handover had been postponed due to what it described as “Israeli violations.”

The group warned that any further Israeli escalation would hinder recovery operations, potentially delaying the return of bodies to Israel.

Gaza’s government media office accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since it came into effect in early October, killing 38 Palestinians and wounding 143.

“These violations have included crimes of direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling and targeting, and the arrest of a number of civilians, reflecting the occupation’s continued policy of aggression despite the declared end of the war,” the statement said.

Gazan authorities urged “the United Nations and the guarantor parties of the agreement to intervene urgently to compel the occupation to end its ongoing aggression and to protect unarmed civilian populations.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Rafah crossing would remain closed until Hamas hands over all remaining hostages’ bodies.

By Aghakazim Guliyev