Hamas confirms handover of all living captives, outlines challenges in recovering remaining bodies

The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced in a statement that they have complied with the terms of the prisoner exchange agreement, confirming that they have handed over all living captives in their possession, as well as the bodies they were able to access.

The brigades explained that recovering the remaining remains faces significant challenges that require specialized equipment and extensive effort.

The statement said, "The resistance has adhered to what was agreed upon and has handed over all the living detainees it had and the bodies it could access."

This announcement confirms the completion of the phase concerning living detainees, which constituted the first stage of the comprehensive agreement.

Regarding the next phase involving the remaining bodies, the statement clarified that completing this task faces enormous logistical challenges.

It added, "As for the remaining bodies, they require substantial effort and specialized equipment to locate and recover them."

This explanation highlights that recovery operations, given the extensive destruction in the Gaza Strip, require capabilities beyond current capacities, necessitating specialized machinery and equipment to remove debris and reach locations where remains are believed to be.

Despite these difficulties, the brigades confirmed at the end of their statement their commitment to completing this humanitarian task, saying, "We are exerting great effort to close this file."

The focus now shifts to providing the field conditions and equipment necessary to begin this arduous mission, which forms an integral part of the agreement’s terms.