(MENAFN) Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to move beyond the so-called “yellow line” in Gaza to assist in the search for the remains of hostages, a government spokesperson said Sunday.

“Israel will maintain overall security control over the Gaza Strip, signaling that the Israeli army will continue to oversee security operations even after the current phase of fighting,” the spokesperson added.

The “yellow line” marks an informal boundary between areas still occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza and zones from which they have withdrawn.

Under the ceasefire that began on October 10, Israel has returned 20 living hostages and the bodies of 16 others, while the remains of 12 captives are still in the enclave. On Saturday, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya stated that his group would access additional areas in Gaza to recover the remains of Israeli hostages.

Phase one of the ceasefire includes the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, plans for reconstruction in Gaza, and the establishment of a new governing structure without Hamas.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the conflict since October 2023 has resulted in over 68,000 deaths and more than 170,000 injuries.

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