Hamas Says It Will Hand Over Body of Hostage Today ‘If Conditions Suitable’

According to a report by The Times of Israel, the military wing of Hamas has announced that it has located the body of another hostage during ongoing search operations in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released earlier, the group said it plans to transfer the body to Israeli authorities “today if the conditions on the ground are suitable.” The statement added that the handover depends on the security situation and that any military developments could delay the process.

“We will transfer the body today if the conditions on the ground are suitable,” the group said. It further warned that “any Zionist escalation will complicate the search and digging operations and the recovery of the bodies, which will lead to a delay in the occupation’s receipt of the bodies.”

The announcement comes amid continued efforts to locate and recover the remains of hostages taken during the ongoing conflict. Hamas said its forces had been conducting search and excavation operations to find the bodies of those who were killed.

The group’s statement emphasized that the process of locating and transferring the remains of hostages is sensitive and dependent on security conditions in the area. It warned that any increase in Israeli military activity could disrupt the operations and postpone the transfer.

In recent weeks, several bodies of hostages have been recovered and handed over to Israeli authorities through coordination with international organizations. The current statement indicates that further transfers could take place if the situation allows.

Hamas reiterated that it remains engaged in search efforts and that the continuation of such operations depends on what it described as “stability on the ground.” The group said that maintaining calm would facilitate the recovery and handover of more bodies in the future.

The statement concluded by reiterating that “any Zionist escalation” would have direct consequences for the pace of search operations and the return of the bodies to Israeli forces.