Gaza: Unexploded bombs left behind after months of Israeli bombardment are claiming more lives in Gaza, as recovery and search operations continue amid widespread destruction.

According to local authorities, at least 53 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured by unexploded ordnance (UXO) since residents began returning to their neighborhoods. The explosives, scattered across densely populated areas, pose an ongoing threat to families attempting to rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, Hamas has expanded its search for the bodies of 13 remaining Israeli captives believed to be buried under rubble in Gaza. The group says it is working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Egyptian rescue teams to locate the remains, including in areas behind former Israeli military positions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will decide which foreign forces may enter Gaza as part of an international mission to secure the ceasefire and oversee reconstruction.

Hamas Leader Khalil al-Hayya Rejects Disarmament, Calls for Technocratic Administration in Gaza:

Senior Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya has rejected calls for the disarmament of the group, asserting that Hamas’ weapons remain tied to the ongoing Israeli occupation and aggression.

“Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and aggression,” al-Hayya said in recent remarks. “They will only be handed over once the occupation ends. We will not give Israel an excuse to resume the war.”

Al-Hayya said that Hamas members are “working day and night” to locate the bodies of Israeli hostages, emphasizing the group’s commitment to humanitarian responsibilities under the current ceasefire.

He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of violating the ceasefire despite what he described as U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that “the war is over.”

Al-Hayya also revealed that an agreement had been reached to establish a technocratic committee to administer Gaza, replacing Hamas’ direct governance. “A technocratic committee will take over the administration of Gaza, and we have agreed on this,” he said.

Rejecting any attempts to divide the Palestinian territories, al-Hayya affirmed that Hamas opposes Israeli efforts to separate Gaza from the West Bank. He noted that internal talks with other Palestinian factions on the issue of disarmament are “ongoing.”

“We are not seekers of war; we are seekers of peace,” he concluded.

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, at least 68,519 Palestinians have been killed and 170,382 wounded, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The region remains on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, with large areas reduced to ruins and essential services barely functioning.