The vehicle was seen operating in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis early Sunday morning, Al-Mayadeen reported.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for confirmation of the convoy’s entry. However, the Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally authorized the arrival of an Egyptian team and several spy vehicles to help find the prisoners’ bodies.
On Saturday night, Egyptian state broadcaster Al-Kahela News confirmed that the Egyptian mission was on its way to Gaza. Two Egyptian military officials also told AFP that the convoy had arrived at the Karem Abu Salem crossing on Saturday night and was awaiting final permission to enter the territory.
Earlier this month, on October 17, Turkish authorities announced that an 81-person rescue team sent from Ankara to help retrieve the bodies of prisoners of war was waiting in Egypt for permission to enter Gaza.
But that permission was never granted. Israeli authorities reportedly objected to Türkiye’s involvement in the operation and effectively blocked the team’s participation.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli occupation forces, the Palestinian movement had promised to release all 48 remaining prisoners, living and dead, in exchange for the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.
To date, only 15 of the 28 POWs who have died have been handed over. The remaining bodies are believed to remain buried under rubble across Gaza, and Hamas is calling for international support and equipment to help find the remaining bodies.
MNA