The U.S. government is initiating a program that offers rewards for Gazans who assist in locating the remains of hostages held by Hamas. This information was shared by senior advisors from the White House during a press briefing on Wednesday evening. “We’re probably going to put together some sort of program where we’re going to ask people to see if they can help us to locate bodies. And we’re going to pay rewards for that type of good behavior,” one advisor commented. This move comes after a ceasefire agreement allowed for the release of all living hostages, along with the recovery of nine bodies of deceased hostages; however, nineteen more have yet to be found.
Hamas has claimed a lack of knowledge about the locations of these remaining bodies, stating that “significant efforts and special equipment” will be necessary to find them. Despite these circumstances, an advisor dismissed accusations that Hamas had violated the ceasefire. “The understanding we had with them was we’d get all the live hostages out, which they did honor,” the advisor noted.
Israeli intelligence teams, alongside Turkish retrieval experts accustomed to responding to natural disasters, will participate in the search efforts. Discussing the challenges faced in Gaza, an advisor described the devastation, likening it to the destruction seen at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks. “The entire Gaza Strip has been pulverized. It looks like something out of a movie,” they expressed, adding that “this is, I don’t know, it feels like multiple times more.” The presence of unexploded ordnance adds further complexity to the recovery process.
Plans are also underway to create “safe zones” in areas still under Israeli control, offering refuge for Palestinians wishing to escape Hamas. “Israel is very committed to creating safety for the people of Gaza who want to live in peace,” an advisor stated, emphasizing the cooperative spirit from Israel regarding this initiative. However, violence in Gaza continues, with claims of Hamas executing Palestinian civilians. The advisor confirmed that they have conveyed to Hamas the urgent need to cease these actions.
Addressing the nature of the violence, an Israeli military official described the killings as a “deliberate attempt to show the killing publicly and reestablish its rule by terrorizing civilians.” The rhetoric surrounding the conflict remains tense. Earlier in the week, President Trump remarked that Hamas seemed intent on stopping further issues. According to him, they had been open about their desire to address violence within Gaza.
As the ceasefire evolves, the successful return of hostages raises hope, yet the situation remains delicate. The IDF’s withdrawal to a designated “Yellow Line” marks an initial step in this complex arrangement. Observers continue to monitor developments closely, aware that the road ahead is fraught with challenges and uncertainty as efforts progress toward restoring order in a war-torn region.
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