Jerusalem is considering expanding its grip on the territory as a sanction against Hamas, which has not returned casualties for about a week. However, everything depends on American approval, after the deadline set by Trump expires tonight:"We hope it will happen tonight." The airlift continues: The American chief of staff will arrive in Israel and visit its headquarters in Kiryat Gat
Itamar Eichner
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Milk grape
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Lior Ben Ari
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Israel is considering expanding the territory it holds in the Gaza Strip, as a sanction against Hamas, due to the fact that the terrorist organization has not returned dead since Tuesday of last week - then
Returned for burial
In Israel
Aryeh Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar
Meanwhile, hours before the expiration
The ultimatum given to Hamas by US President Donald Trump
The Saudi-owned Al-Sharq channel reported at noon (Monday) that the organization informed the mediators of the agreement that it was "about to rescue between seven and nine martyrs."
3 Viewing the gallery
Heavy equipment entering the Gaza Strip (Photo: BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
The searches in Khan Yunis (Photo: AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
According to the report, which is allegedly based on a source close to the search for the bodies, Hamas has managed to verify the location of seven to nine abductees in rubble areas in various places in the Gaza Strip. The source noted that the bodies will be handed over to the Red Cross immediately after they are rescued - but the report did not specify an exact date. According to the same source, Hamas' military wing is continuing to work following the arrival of heavy equipment intended to assist in search and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, despite the fact that Jerusalem is examining the possibility of imposing sanctions on the terrorist organization, it is unclear if and when the US will allow this, given the fact that it oversees the agreement with Hamas and approves every step taken by Israel.
Yesterday, the searches focused on Rafah and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. According to reports, in Rafah, the searches are focused on locating Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, and in Khan Yunis, there are attempts to locate Amiram Cooper. Sources familiar with the details said yesterday that
Under pressure from mediators, the IDF withdrew from the area where searches were being conducted in the territory under its control in the Gaza Strip.
- Beyond the Yellow Line - for fear of a clash with Hamas members.
Those Hamas men, from the"Shadow" unit who were responsible for guarding the hostages,
Join the Red Cross in their search for the missing.
Yesterday afternoon, Israel approved Hamas members to join the Red Cross teams, and according to reports in Qatar, the teams were operating in Rafah and will also operate in Gaza City. The Saudi Al-Arabiya network reported today that"Hamas provided information on the location of casualties to the Egyptian team," and Al-Hadath reported that "Hamas provided the Egyptian team with maps."
Trump's deadline is approaching, Israel is waiting for a"green light" for sanctions (Photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard, AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
In any case, Jerusalem is coordinating with the Americans, and Israel hopes that after the negotiations are exhausted and Trump's deadline ends - which, as mentioned, is set to expire tonight - there will be a"green light" from the White House to impose sanctions and that "it will happen tonight." In the meantime, the Rafah crossing continues to be closed, with its opening being delayed for more than a week.
Along with the tight American supervision, the airlift of senior officials to Israel also continues. American Chief of Staff General Dan Kane will arrive in Israel in the coming days and visit the American headquarters in Kiryat Gat. Kane visited Israel in the middle of the month with President Trump and met with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir at that time. He also attended Trump's speech in the Knesset.
The failure to return the dead hostages effectively delays the continued implementation of the agreement and the transition to Phase B. The ultimatum issued by the American president, according to which he is"closely examining what will happen in the next 48 hours," stems from the fact that the US has become convinced that Hamas is lying about locating the dead hostages.
In the Gaza Strip, 13 hostages remain dead: Captain Omar Nowtra, Major General Ran Gueili, Sergeant Itay Chen, Sergeant Oz Daniel, Colonel Assaf Hammi, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, Sahar Baruch, Dror Or, Manny Goddard, Amiram Cooper, Lior Rudaif, Joshua Luito Molal and Sontisque Rintalk.
