Joint Task Force Created by Israel, US, Qatar, and Egypt to Recover Slain Gaza Hostages

Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt will establish a joint task force to locate and recover the remains of hostages killed in Gaza whose locations remain unknown, The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

The task force, formed as part of the first phase of the newly announced peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, will focus on recovering the deceased alongside the release of 20 living hostages expected within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation.

A source familiar with the operation told The Jerusalem Post that the joint team will deploy heavy equipment for excavation and building demolition, where necessary, to reach the remains of the abducted.

This new initiative follows the signing of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The deal, championed by U.S. President Donald Trump and mediated by Egyptian, Qatari, and American officials, is set to be ratified by the Israeli cabinet in a vote at 6 p.m. local time Thursday.

Hamas has already begun collecting the bodies of slain hostages for repatriation, according to Arab media reports. Israeli sources indicated that the IDF has received detailed maps of the agreed military withdrawal zones in preparation for the next steps under the deal.

The effort to recover the bodies has taken on heightened urgency for families who have spent two years in uncertainty since the October 7, 2023, attacks. While many families are anticipating the return of living loved ones, others are holding out hope for closure.

Trump’s administration had made the return of all hostages both living and dead a central condition of the 20-point peace framework signed on Thursday. The joint task force represents a critical step in fulfilling that promise and signals deeper coordination between Israel and regional partners during the implementation phase of the agreement.

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