Hamas Agrees to Return Four Deceased Hostages as Israel Reduces Aid Deliveries Over Body Release – Live Updates

Israel tells UN it will halve Gaza aid deliveries as ceasefire strains over hostage body returns

Israel has informed the UN it will allow only 300 aid trucks – half the agreed number – to enter Gaza from Wednesday, Reuters reports, citing a diplomatic note seen by the agency and confirmed by the UN.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military body overseeing aid flows, said the restrictions were being imposed because “Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages.” No fuel or gas will be permitted except for “specific humanitarian infrastructure needs”, the note added.

Associated Press reported that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was being tested as tensions rose over the slow return of the bodies of hostages. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the truce terms by delaying the handover of 24 deceased captives; four bodies were transferred to Israel on Monday.

Three AP sources said word of the aid cuts had been passed to US officials and international agencies. The Israeli government has not commented.

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Trump says ‘phase two begins right now’ after return of final living hostages

Donald Trump has claimed that all 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have now been released.

Posting on his social media platform, the US president wrote: “All twenty hostages are back and feeling as good as can be expected. A big burden has been lifted, but the job is not done. The dead have not been returned, as promised! Phase two begins right now!!!”

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Updated at 19.21 CEST

Gaza health ministry reports 44 deaths in past 24 hours, taking death toll to 67,913

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza says 44 people have been killed and 29 injured in the past 24 hours as a result of Israeli attacks.

The ministry said on Telegram that 38 of those killed were recovered from under the rubble, adding that rescue crews were still unable to reach others trapped in destroyed areas.

According to the ministry, the overall death toll in Gaza since 7 October 2023 has risen to 67,913, with 170,134 people reported injured.

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Israel tells UN it will halve Gaza aid deliveries as ceasefire strains over hostage body returns

Israel has informed the UN it will allow only 300 aid trucks – half the agreed number – to enter Gaza from Wednesday, Reuters reports, citing a diplomatic note seen by the agency and confirmed by the UN.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military body overseeing aid flows, said the restrictions were being imposed because “Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages.” No fuel or gas will be permitted except for “specific humanitarian infrastructure needs”, the note added.

Associated Press reported that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was being tested as tensions rose over the slow return of the bodies of hostages. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the truce terms by delaying the handover of 24 deceased captives; four bodies were transferred to Israel on Monday.

Three AP sources said word of the aid cuts had been passed to US officials and international agencies. The Israeli government has not commented.

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Surge of aid in Gaza has not begun, aid agencies say

The Red Cross and UN agencies have said the expected surge of aid into Gaza has not begun, warning of growing hunger as the Rafah crossing remains closed.

“We need all crossings open,” said Unicef spokesperson Ricardo Pires. “The longer Rafah stays closed, the more the suffering prolongs for people in Gaza, especially those displaced in the south.”

Three Israeli officials told Reuters the decision to keep Rafah closed through Wednesday and restrict supplies was linked to delays by Hamas in returning the bodies of Israeli hostages. Hamas said finding the bodies was difficult amid the destruction.

“The shift has not yet happened,” said Christian Cardon, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has acted as a neutral intermediary in the handovers of hostages. “We are still witnessing only a few trucks coming in, and large crowds approaching these trucks in a way that does absolutely not conform to humanitarian standards.”

Palestinians pass by rubble in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ramadan Abed/Reuters

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Hamas says it will return bodies of four Israeli hostages tonight

Hamas has told mediators it plans to transfer the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages to Israel at 10pm local time (7pm GMT) on Tuesday, an official involved in the operation has told Reuters.

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Only half the number of agreed aid trucks will be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip from Wednesday, with a ban on fuel and gas, according to the Israeli government body known as Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat).

In a statement, Cogat said Hamas had violated the agreement by not releasing the bodies of dead Israeli hostages.

It read:

Yesterday, Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

As a result, the political leadership has decided to impose a number of sanctions related to the humanitarian agreement that was reached.

Starting tomorrow, only half of the agreed number of trucks — 300 trucks — will be allowed to enter, and all of them will belong to the UN and humanitarian NGOs, with no private sector involvement.

No fuel or gas will be allowed into the strip, except for specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure.

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The day so far

• The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will stay closed through Wednesday and the flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave will be reduced, three Israeli officials said on Tuesday. The decision came after Palestinian militant group Hamas did not hand over bodies of hostages it is holding as part of the new US-brokered ceasefire deal, the officials said, without elaborating on how long the move would last.

• A nephew of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has returned to the West Bank after four years of self-exile, outlining a roadmap to secure peace in Gaza with Hamas transforming into a political party and declaring his readiness to help govern. Nasser al-Qudwa, a prominent critic of the current Palestinian leadership, also urged “a serious confrontation of corruption in this country”.

• Some of the near 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released on Monday are suffering from a range of health problems they developed during years in Israeli detention, doctors and freed prisoners in the occupied West Bank told the Associated Press. The Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah received 14 men released on Monday as part of the exchange and discharged all but two.

• The European Union should maximise its influence in Gaza’s recovery process and join a US-proposed “Board of Peace” intended to temporarily oversee governance of the territory, the EU’s diplomatic arm said in a document seen by Reuters. Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas carried out a hostage-prisoner exchange on Monday and a ceasefire is in force under the first phase of president Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative for Gaza after two years of war.

• The Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that halts two years of armed conflict in Gaza presents an opportunity for a lasting economic recovery in the region, the International Monetary Fund’s deputy chief economist said on Tuesday. Petya Koeva-Brooks said the IMF stands ready to cooperate with the international community on the recovery of Gaza and regional economies that have been deeply affected by the conflict, including Egypt and Jordan.

• The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main Israeli group campaigning for the release of all hostages, has said that Hamas’s failure to release all of the bodies “must be met with a serious response”. On Monday, Hamas released the final 20 living hostages taken on 7 October 2023, while Israel handed over nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.

• Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty told the Associated Press ahead of Monday’s summit that 15 Palestinian technocrats have been selected to administer postwar Gaza. He said their names were already vetted by Israel, without disclosing them. “We need to deploy them to take care of the daily life of the people in Gaza, and the board of peace should support and supervise the flow of finance and money, which will come for the reconstruction of Gaza,” he said, referring to a board that would govern Gaza and be chaired by US president Donald Trump.

• The ICRC has acknowledged that it will take time to hand over the remains of Israeli hostages in Gaza, calling it a “massive challenge” given the difficulties of finding bodies amid the territory’s rubble. “That’s an even bigger challenge than having the people alive being released. That’s a massive challenge,” the ICRC’s spokesperson Christian Cardon was quoted by Reuters as having said.

• Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has said the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement must not come at the expense of holding accountable those responsible for the “genocide” in Gaza. “Peace cannot mean forgetting; it cannot mean impunity,” he said during an interview with Cadena Ser radio.

• Israel’s military said it opened fire on people who it says approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. The military said the people in question had crossed a boundary for an initial Israeli pullback under the US-brokered ceasefire plan, in a violation of the deal.

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A nephew of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has returned to the West Bank after four years of self-exile, outlining a roadmap to secure peace in Gaza with Hamas transforming into a political party and declaring his readiness to help govern.

Nasser al-Qudwa, a prominent critic of the current Palestinian leadership, also urged “a serious confrontation of corruption in this country”. He said president Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Movement needed deep reform and must do more to counter Jewish settler violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

“The first duty … is to regain confidence of the street – something that we lost – and we have to be brave enough and say that we don’t have it anymore, and without it, frankly, it’s useless,” Qudwa told Reuters in an interview.

Qudwa left the West Bank in 2021 after he was expelled from Fatah, the movement founded by his uncle, over his decision to field his own list in elections, defying Abbas who cancelled the vote.

Abbas, 89, readmitted Qudwa to Fatah last week, after offering an amnesty for expelled members.

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Some of the near 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released on Monday are suffering from a range of health problems they developed during years in Israeli detention, doctors and freed prisoners in the occupied West Bank told the Associated Press (AP).

The Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah received 14 men released on Monday as part of the exchange and discharged all but two. Doctors examining the men said their conditions suggested they had been beaten.

“It indicates that these patients were subjected to severe beatings, reflecting the extent of the violence they endured,” said Imed al-Shami, a resident doctor at the hospital’s emergency department.

The AP could not independently verify the claims. The Israel Prison Service said it was unaware of such claims.

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The European Union should maximise its influence in Gaza’s recovery process and join a US-proposed “Board of Peace” intended to temporarily oversee governance of the territory, the EU’s diplomatic arm said in a document seen by Reuters.

Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas carried out a hostage-prisoner exchange on Monday and a ceasefire is in force under the first phase of president Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative for Gaza after two years of war.

But important details of how to secure a lasting peace still have to be worked out, including on governance and security arrangements, and EU foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss how Europe can contribute to Trump’s plan.

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The Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that halts two years of armed conflict in Gaza presents an opportunity for a lasting economic recovery in the region, the International Monetary Fund’s deputy chief economist said on Tuesday.

Petya Koeva-Brooks said the IMF stands ready to cooperate with the international community on the recovery of Gaza and regional economies that have been deeply affected by the conflict, including Egypt and Jordan.

She said Egypt’s outlook had already been upgraded to 4.3% real GDP growth in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026 because of a recovery in tourism and a boost to the non-oil manufacturing sector.

These sectors have offset declines in Egypt’s conflict-hit Suez Canal revenues, but she said Suez and mining activities were expected to recover in 2026.

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Updated at 16.37 CEST

Gaza’s Rafah border crossing will remain closed through Wednesday, Israel says

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will stay closed through Wednesday and the flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave will be reduced, three Israeli officials said on Tuesday.

The decision came after Palestinian militant group Hamas did not hand over bodies of hostages it is holding as part of the new US-brokered ceasefire deal, the officials said, without elaborating on how long the move would last.

Hamas previously indicated that recovering the bodies of some dead hostages may take longer, as not all burial sites amid the widespread rubble of Gaza are known.

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The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main Israeli group campaigning for the release of all hostages, has said that Hamas’s failure to release all of the bodies “must be met with a serious response”.

On Monday, Hamas released the final 20 living hostages taken on 7 October 2023, while Israel handed over nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.

The IDF earlier confirmed the identity of two of the four bodies (Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi) of deceased hostages it received yesterday. See post at 10.01 for more details.

Bereaved families of the 24 other dead Israeli and foreign hostages have expressed anger and sorrow that their loved one’s remains were also not handed over yesterday.

In a statement posted to X earlier today, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum wrote:

The families of the hostages and the returned embrace the families of Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi, along with two additional families whose loved ones were recently returned for proper burial.

Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole, the return of Guy and Bipin, may their memories be a blessing, together with two additional deceased hostages, brings some measure of comfort to families who have lived with agonising uncertainty and doubt for over two years. We will not rest until all 24 hostages are brought home.

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What issues are still to be resolved in the Gaza ceasefire deal?

My colleagues Archie Bland and Peter Beaumont have done a useful explainer on the unresolved issues surrounding the ceasefire agreement, which is still in its early stages of its implementation. Here are some of the main issues they have identified:

So far, Israel has pulled back from Gaza’s major cities, to a “yellow line” that means it occupies about 53% of the territory. In theory, withdrawals will follow in two further stages: first, when an international stabilisation force is mobilised; second, to a lasting “security buffer zone”.

But Benjamin Netanyahu’s language in recent days had a different emphasis. “The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] remains deep inside Gaza territory and controls all of its dominating points,” he said in a statement last week. “We are encircling Hamas from all directions.”

Without real carrots and sticks for Netanyahu, the recent precedents for further withdrawal are not promising.

Palestinian people return to homes devastated by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Disarmament is a central tenet of the Trump plan – but on Saturday a senior Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that disarmament was “out of the question”, adding: “The demand that we hand over our weapons is not up for negotiation.” Even as the hostages were released on Monday, there were images of armed fighters in parts of Gaza, an apparent attempt by Hamas to reassert its authority.

The White House plan was devised with no meaningful input from Palestinian civil society on the ground in Gaza. The transitional government will involve the former British prime minister Tony Blair but as yet no credible Palestinian figure. Netanyahu appears unwilling to accept the eventual role for the Palestinian Authority floated by the US; in any case, that body and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, are deeply unpopular in Gaza. There is no Palestinian ownership of this process. It is not a grand peace deal with a vision of a state at the end of it.

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Updated at 15.18 CEST

Andrew Sparrow

British prime minister Keir Starmer spoke about the Gaza ceasefire in the House of Commons this morning.

He said:

Let me now turn to the Middle East and words I have longed to say in this house for a very long time – the surviving hostages are freed, the bombardment of Gaza has stopped and desperately needed aid is starting to enter as a result of the peace plan led by President Trump.

Starmer said the relief is tempered by concern for those who have died, and for the innocent civilians killed. “This has been two years of living hell,” he said.

He said the ceasefire deal is historic. But “what matters now is implementation”, and this has to happen as quickly as possible.

He went on:

Let no one be any doubt that none of this would have been possible without President Trump.

But Starmer also paid tribute to international allies, and he says the UK has “worked behind the scenes for months with the US, Arab and European nations to help deliver a ceasefire, get the hostages out, get aid in and secure a better future for Israel”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a statement on the Middle East in the House of Commons, London. Photograph: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

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Updated at 16.37 CEST

What are the potential implications of linking hostage releases to reductions in humanitarian aid deliveries?

Hostage Release Details & Conditions

Hamas has agreed to the return of the bodies of four israeli hostages, a progress confirmed by both Israeli officials and Hamas representatives on october 14, 2025. This limited release comes amidst escalating tensions and a significant reduction in humanitarian aid entering Gaza by Israel. The agreement was reportedly brokered by qatari and Egyptian mediators, following weeks of intense negotiations.

* Identities of Hostages: While official names have not been released to the public out of respect for the families,sources indicate the deceased were civilians taken captive during the October 7th,2023 attacks.

* Release Mechanism: The handover is expected to take place within the next 24-48 hours, facilitated by the International Committee of the red Cross (ICRC). The location of the transfer remains undisclosed for security reasons.

* Conditions of Release: The release is contingent upon Israel reducing the restrictions on aid deliveries to Gaza, specifically regarding medical supplies and essential food items. This represents a key demand from Hamas, who cite the deteriorating humanitarian situation as a primary concern.

Israel’s Response: Reduced Aid & Security Concerns

In direct response to the prolonged negotiations and the conditionality surrounding the hostage release, Israel has significantly curtailed the flow of aid into the gaza Strip. Israeli officials maintain that aid deliveries were being diverted by Hamas for military purposes, rather than reaching civilians.

* Aid Reduction Statistics: Reports indicate a 50% reduction in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza daily, compared to the previous week. Restrictions have been placed on deliveries of flour, sugar, and other staple foods.

* Security Justification: Israel’s defense Ministry argues that the reduction is necessary to prevent Hamas from strengthening its capabilities and to ensure the safety of israeli citizens. They claim intelligence suggests Hamas is confiscating aid and using it to fund its operations.

* international Criticism: The reduction in aid has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and international aid organizations, who warn of a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Concerns are mounting over widespread malnutrition and the potential for disease outbreaks.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: A deepening Emergency

The already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by the reduced aid flow. The territory is facing critical shortages of essential supplies, including:

* Medical Supplies: Hospitals are overwhelmed and lacking basic medical equipment, medications, and personnel. The collapse of the healthcare system is a major concern.

* Food Security: Widespread food insecurity is reported, with families struggling to access adequate nutrition. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that over 80% of the population is experiencing food insecurity.

* Clean Water & Sanitation: Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is severely limited, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

* Shelter: hundreds of thousands of Gazans remain displaced from their homes, living in overcrowded shelters with inadequate living conditions.

The Role of International Mediation

Qatar and Egypt have been instrumental in mediating between Israel and Hamas, facilitating communication and negotiating the terms of the hostage release.

* Qatari Involvement: Qatar has maintained close ties with Hamas and has played a key role in securing previous hostage releases.

* Egyptian Efforts: Egypt has been working to de-escalate tensions and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

* US Diplomatic Pressure: The United States has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure the release of all hostages and to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly called for increased aid access and a ceasefire.

previous Hostage Releases & Ongoing Negotiations

This latest development follows a series of previous hostage releases negotiated between Israel and Hamas. However, the pace of releases has slowed significantly in recent months.

* November 2023 Deal: In November 2023, a temporary ceasefire agreement led to the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

* Remaining Hostages: An estimated 136 hostages remain in Gaza, many of whom are believed to be deceased.

* Future Negotiations: Negotiations are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining hostages, but progress has been hampered by disagreements over the terms of a potential long-term ceasefire.

Impact on Regional Stability

The hostage release and the reduction in aid deliveries have significant implications for regional stability.

* Escalation Risk: The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation of violence.

* Influence of Hezbollah: The actions of Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to add another layer of complexity to the conflict.

* Iranian Involvement: Concerns remain about Iran’s support for Hamas and other militant groups in the region.

Understanding the Legal Framework: Hostage Taking & International Law

The taking of hostages is a clear violation of international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions.

* Geneva conventions: The Geneva conventions prohibit the taking of hostages and require the humane treatment of prisoners of war.

* War Crimes: Hostage taking can be considered a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

* **Responsibility