Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Monday announced it had recovered the body of an Israeli hostage in central Gaza, as both it and Hamas intensify efforts to locate and return the last remaining bodies they are obligated to hand over under a tenuous ceasefire agreement with Israel.

The terror group said it “found” the body during excavation operations north of Gaza’s Nuseirat camp. The announcement confirmed earlier reporting by Al Jazeera, though the group did not say when — or whether — the remains would be transferred to Israel.

Three slain hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza: Israelis Dror Or and Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak. The searches are reportedly targeting all three.

Over the weekend, Arabic-language outlets reported that Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched joint searches for the bodies. Footage showed armed Islamic Jihad operatives standing beside excavators bearing Egyptian flags, highlighting Cairo’s involvement in implementing the hostage-return clauses of the truce.

According to Al Jazeera, the digging began Friday. Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported separate Hamas search efforts underway in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood.

The ceasefire deal requires the terror factions to return all hostage remains. But both Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim they are struggling to locate bodies buried under months of brutal combat, bombardment, and subterranean tunnel collapse — an explanation Israeli officials have openly questioned.

The most recent repatriation occurred November 13, when the body of Meny Godard hy”d, murdered and abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, was returned to Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)