A body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not belong to a hostage, the Israeli military said on Wednesday amid growing tensions over the repatriation of remains.
The IDF said that a forensic investigation had revealed no match with any of the hostages after Hamas returned four bodies late on Tuesday as part of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
Israel had threatened to close the border between Gaza and Egypt, jeopardising vital aid, until Hamas returned all 28 deceased hostages, after the Palestinian group initially released only four bodies on Monday.
An Israeli security official told The Independent on Wednesday that the Rafah Crossing would not be open and that “no such agreement has been reached at any stage” amid conflicting reports that it would be open today.
Israeli media had suggested that the border was expected to stay shut against “the plan”, citing “violations in the agreement to return the bodies of Israeli hostages”. Trucks sat at the border waiting to deliver aid into the territory.
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Key Points
- Aid will not pass through the Rafah Crossing: security official
- Fourth body returned to Israel NOT a hostage: IDF
- Israel receives remains of 4 more deceased hostages
- Trump: Hamas must disarm or 'we will disarm them', perhaps violently
- Trump declares Phase Two of ceasefire has begun - with no further detail
Father of hostage says his son was handcuffed to a cage for a year
10:50
,
James Reynolds
The father of a hostage recently returned to Israel said his son was handcuffed to a cage for a year after he tried to escape.
Yaron Or told Kan radio that his son, Avinatan, was handcuffed to “a barred place” some 1.8 metres high and the length of a mattress after he tried to run away.
He said that his son was beaten, and that he was held in a tunnel for the entire duration of his captivity.
Avinatan was one of the 20 living hostages freed as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
How many deceased Israeli hostages remain in Gaza
10:40
,
James Reynolds
Hamas agreed to repatriate the 48 hostages it still held in Gaza as part of the initial ceasefire deal.
The group handed back all 20 living hostages on Monday. This week, it began returning the remains of the 28 believed to be dead.
Four bodies were returned on Monday, and another four came on Tuesday.
Relatives identified three of the bodies returned on Tuesday, but the IDF said following a forensic investigation that the fourth did not match any of the remaining hostages.
Hamas is expected to return another four bodies on Wednesday, sources told Israeli media.
Hamas and Israel previously agreed to create a mechanism to search for the remains of hostages in Gaza, CNN reported, adding that no such mechanism has so far been set up.
Palestinian bodies arrived in Gaza 'blindfolded, shot and run over by tanks'
10:30
,
James Reynolds
Bodies of Palestinians repatriated to Gaza this week have arrived blindfolded, with signs of gunshot wounds or having been run over by tanks, the enclave’s Nasser hospital said in a harrowing report.
Some 45 deceased Palestinians were transferred from Israel to the Nasser Medical Complex on Monday.
The hospital’s forensic department told CNN on Tuesday that they were yet to be identified.
All arrived with their hands and legs cuffed, the hospital said. They arrived with numbers marking them, rather than their names, it said.
“Some are blindfolded, and there are signs of gunshot wounds in some cases, while others have been run over by tanks.”
Hamas expected to return more bodies today
10:20
,
James Reynolds
Hamas is expected to transfer four more bodies of hostages to Israel on Wednesday, sources told the Times of Israel.
A Middle Eastern diplomat and a second source familiar with the matter told the Israeli outlet Hamas had informed mediators it would repatriate the remains amid confusion of the return of bodies late on Tuesday.
Four bodies were returned to Israel last night and three were identified as the remains of hostages. But the IDF said on Wednesday, following a forensic investigation, that the fourth did not belong to any hostage.
An Israeli source also told CNN that Hamas was expected to return more bodies today.
It’s taken only 24 hours, but Trump’s fairytale of peace in the Middle East seems doomed
10:12
,
James Reynolds
Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump announced his “everlasting peace”, Palestinians were still being killed in Gaza, aid trucks stopped going in and a row broke out about the failure of Hamas to return the bodies of dead Israeli hostages.
All of these grim, and sadly all too predictable factors, threaten to topple the whole ceasefire process.
Our Chief International Correspondent, Bel Trew, reports:
Fourth body returned to Israel NOT a hostage: IDF
09:49
,
James Reynolds
The fourth body returned to Israel late on Tuesday does not belong to a hostage, the IDF said on Wednesday.
“Following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages,” it said in a statement.
“Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages.”
Hamas returned the remains of four more hostages, totalling eight, on Tuesday. A further 20 are believed to remain in Gaza, with pressure piling on Hamas to repatriate the bodies.
Aid continues to enter Gaza through Israel-Gaza crossings
09:42
,
James Reynolds
Humanitarian aid continued to enter Gaza through the Kissufim and Kerem Shalom crossings under the supervision of UN agencies, Al Jazeera Arabic reported on Wednesday.
Both border crossings allow for the delivery of aid from Israel into Gaza.
An Israeli security official told The Independent that the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza would remain shut after reports early on Wednesday indicated it would reopen.
Hamas must be 'erased from the face of the earth', says Israeli minister
09:37
,
James Reynolds
Hamas must be ‘erased from the face of the earth’, Israel’s national security minister insisted as tensions again rose over the delayed return of Israeli hostages.
Itamar Ben Gvir accused the Palestinian group of “abus[ing] families and the bodies” after it returned just four more bodies late on Tuesday.
“Nazi terror understands only force, and the only way to solve problems with it is to wipe it off the face of the earth,” he wrote on Telegram.
On Tuesday, Ben Gvir had called on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to issue a clear ultimatum to Hamas: If you do not immediately return all the bodies of our fallen soldiers and continue delaying - we will immediately stop all aid supplies entering the Strip.”
Hamas has released its last living captives, but is yet to hand over the remains of 20 hostages.
Israel reopens beach near Gaza border
09:27
,
James Reynolds
The IDF will reopen Israel’s Zikim Beach on the northern border with Gaza to the general public for the first time since October 2023.
The army said the beach would be reopened on Thursday “following significant operational activities” and preparations in the area.
Aid will not pass through the Rafah Crossing: Israeli security official
09:20
,
Bel Trew
In a major blow to the ceasefire deal agreed with such fanfare at the beginning of the week, an Israeli security official told The Independent: "Humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah Crossing.
“No such agreement has been reached at any stage.
"The date for opening the crossing for the movement of people only will be announced later."
Hamas 'executes gang members' as it reasserts grip on Gaza
08:17
,
James Reynolds
Hamas security forces have returned to Gaza's streets, clashing with armed groups and killing alleged gangsters in a bid to restore law and order where Israeli troops withdrew.
Trump said Tuesday that Hamas had taken out “a couple of gangs that were very bad,” and killed a number of gang members. “That didn't bother me much, to be honest with you,” he said.
Read the full story:
Three bodies of Israeli hostages identified, families say
07:48
,
James Reynolds
Three of the four bodies of hostages returned to Israel overnight have been identified, relatives said.
Uriel Baruch, from Jerusalem, was among those returning late on Wednesday. He was 35-years-old when Hamas kidnapped him on October 7.
Tamir Nimrodi was identified by his family. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said he was kidnapped alive from his base and killed by IDF bombings. Earlier, his family said he was “murdered” in captivity.
Eitan Levy, 53 from Bat Yam, was also identified after his return overnight. Mr Levy’s family were told in December 2023 that he had been killed on October 7 and his body taken into Gaza.
Gaza in pictures as ceasefire holds
07:30
,
Shweta Sharma
Israeli tanks have been replaced by bulldozers that have begun cleaning work in Gaza as the ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli military continues to hold.
Palestinians continued to pour into the streets with their belongings.
More dramatic pictures showed Hamas gunmen on pickup trucks escorting buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners as they are greeted following their release from Israeli jails under a cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis.
The glaring detail in Trump’s peace photo which hints at what might go terribly wrong
07:00
,
Shweta Sharma
The Gaza conflict has had a particular impact on women and girls. But a visitor to the planet observing the recent Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit would never know.
When Egypt released the list of global leaders and officials attending the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh – more than 25 nations and international bodies in total – the only woman on the list was Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni.
As the smallest person in attendance, you might have thought she’d have been ushered to the front. But no. She was left to bob about at the back completely invisible – and ignored, until president Donald Trump went out of his way to acknowledge her presence at the final press conference – by calling her “beautiful”. This is not the attention to detail that women need in peace talks.
There is an immediate problem with the absence of women leaders on the world stage, and it matters for the lives of women and girls in the region, and, I would argue, for the wider chances of sustainable peace.
Tamir Nimrodi’s return ends 740 days of agony for his family
06:16
,
Bel Trew
The families of the hostages and those who have been released bowed their heads in grief upon receiving the devastating news of the murder of Tamir Nimrodi z”l.
Tamir’s return brings to an end 740 days of unbearable uncertainty and pain. The families of the hostages and the released stand in deep solidarity with the Nimrodi family, sharing their sorrow and pledging to remain by their side in this time of mourning.
Tamir’s family said: “After two years of tormenting uncertainty, filled with hope and longing for a different ending, we received the heartbreaking news confirming the identity of our beloved Tamir.
“Tamir was brutally abducted from his base and murdered in Hamas captivity. He was returned to Israel yesterday for eternal rest. We are in moments of grief and reflection, but we will not abandon the hostage families until the last hostage is brought home.”
Fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire after seven Palestinians killed and aid cut off
06:00
,
Shweta Sharma
There are fears the fragile Gaza ceasefire could collapse after reports of Palestinians killed the day after Donald Trump announced peace.
Palestinian Civil Defence said on Tuesday seven people had been killed by Israeli forces in two separate incidents, in eastern Gaza and to the east of Khan Younis, in the south.
Israel has also announced it will keep the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed and restrict aid until Hamas returns the bodies of deceased hostages. It told the UN it would halve the amount of aid to 300 aid trucks from Wednesday.
Four more dead hostages and captives were handed over by Hamas late Tuesday evening, with 20 remaining in Gaza. The bodies were transferred to the Red Cross who passed them on to the Israeli military.
Turkish aid ship sets sail with food and baby formula for Gaza
05:55
,
Shweta Sharma
A Turkish aid vessel carrying 900 tonnes of food and baby formula has departed from the port of Mersin bound for Gaza, Al Jazeera reported, citing the state-run Anadolu Agency.
The ship, named “The Goodness,” is part of a humanitarian initiative organised by Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in coordination with 17 non-governmental organisations and Egypt’s Red Crescent.
The effort comes as Ankara plays an increasingly active role in supporting and mediating the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Turkey has long expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza and previously backed several Gaza Freedom Flotillas, including the 2010 Mavi Marmara mission that ended in tragedy when Israeli commandos raided the ship, killing 10 Turkish activists.
Unlike those flotilla missions that sought to break Israel’s blockade by sailing directly to Gaza, The Goodness will offload its cargo at Egypt’s El Arish port before the aid is transported into the besieged enclave by land.
In pictures: Israel receives four bodies of deceased hostages
05:50
,
Shweta Sharma
Hamas returned four more bodies of deceased hostages to Israel on Tuesday night.
The bodies were transported in Red Cross vehicles.
Those coffins, escorted by Israeli forces, crossed the border into Israel shortly before midnight (2100 GMT) and were taken for forensic identification.
Israel to open Gaza's Rafah crossing, cancels planned measures against Hamas
05:29
,
Shweta Sharma
Israel decided to proceed with opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt and allowing the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza, after the return of the bodies of four hostages, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.
Israel cancelled planned measures against Hamas that included halving the number of aid trucks entering the enclave, it said.
Israel to halve aid into Gaza over slow return of dead hostages
05:24
,
Shweta Sharma
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came under renewed strain on Tuesday after Israel announced it would cut in half the number of aid trucks permitted to enter Gaza.
The move followed Israeli concerns that Hamas was delaying the return of the remains of dead hostages beyond the timeline agreed in the truce.
According to the United Nations’ humanitarian office, Israel’s military liaison body, COGAT, notified them that only 300 aid trucks would be allowed into the war-ravaged enclave each day, down from the 600 stipulated under the ceasefire terms.
US officials were also informed of the decision, three American sources told the Associated Press.
Israel’s government has not yet commented publicly on the reduction, but Hamas appeared to respond to the mounting pressure.
Trump: Hamas must disarm or we will disarm them
04:54
,
Shweta Sharma
Donald Trump has said he wants the deceased hostages in Gaza to be released and warned Hamas that if they “don’t disarm, we will disarm them”.
The US president was speaking during a meeting in the White House with Argentinian president Javier Milei.
"If they don't disarm, we will disarm them,” he said.
Trump said he communicated this to Hamas and they had agreed to disarm, as his 20-point peace proposal stated.
"I spoke to Hamas, and I said, you're going to disarm, right? Yes, sir, we're going to disarm. That's what they told me," Trump said, later clarifying that he passed the message through intermediaries.
Trump said he communicated this to Hamas and they had agreed to disarm, as his 20-point peace proposal stated.
The comments came as the Red Cross is believed to be at a meeting point where Hamas is set to return the bodies of four more hostages, meaning there would be 20 bodies remaining in Gaza.
Israel receives remains of 4 more deceased hostages
03:52
,
Shweta Sharma
Hamas released four more bodies of hostages, Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night, after the Israeli military ramped up pressure on the fragile ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed late Tuesday that authorities received four deceased hostages that the Red Cross handed over to Israeli military authorities inside Gaza.
The bodies will be taken to the National Centre for Forensic Medicine where they will be identified and the families notified.
This latest transfer of remains comes a day after Israel received the bodies of four other dead hostages.
An Israeli military agency said it would slash aid deliveries to Gaza by half over concerns that the militant group was handing over remains more slowly than agreed.
In focus | What we know about ‘phase two’ of Trump’s ceasefire deal
03:00
,
Alex Croft
“A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” Donald Trump told world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, heralding the success of the first phase of his peace agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war.
If the “first phase” sought to address the key demands of both sides – namely a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages to Israel – the second would focus on rebuilding the enclave in a way that guarantees lasting peace and security.
Trump acknowledged on Monday that the path to peace will be winding. The phases of the deal are “all a little bit mixed in with each other”, he said, assuring later that elements can still be taken “out of order in a positive way”.
Our foreign affairs reporter James Clark Reynolds writes:
Trump declares Phase Two of ceasefire has begun - with no further detail
02:03
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump has announced the beginning of phase two of a Gaza deal, amid a darkening outlook for the ceasefire agreement as Israel delays aid and Hamas tightened its grip on the enclave.
“ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
“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!!!”
Hostage families thank Trump for 'determination'
01:00
,
Alex Croft
On Tuesday evening, a group of family members of the hostages gave statements at Ichilov Hospital.
Lishay Miran-Lavi, the wife of captivity survivor Omri Miran, thanked the Trump administration for their “determination” in bringing the hostages home.
“I am so thankful to the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, for being available for us, for opening up the White House to us at any time, even when no one else spoke to us,” she said.
“Your determination has brought us this wonderful moment.”
Speaking of Mr Miran, she said there were points where he “thought it was going to be over” and “thought the end was near”.
“In recent weeks, the fighting was right above his head in Gaza,” she added.
Viki Cohen, the mother of survivor Nimrod Cohen, said Monday was one of the “most emotional days of my life”.
She said: “The anticipation, the anxiety, the uncertainty, it all became distilled in one single moment, a moment of great excitement.
“I cannot describe how moved I was in those moments when I was united with Nimrod. We did not say a single word. We just hugged each other and we just let the tears flow.”
She also thanked the Trump administration, who she said did “everything to make Nimrod come back to me”.
Iran says US president's invitation to dialogue is contradictory
Wednesday 15 October 2025 00:00
,
Alex Croft
Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday criticised US president Donald Trump's call for dialogue, accusing Washington of "hostile and criminal behaviour" following his remarks to the Israeli parliament about being ready to strike a deal with Tehran.
In June, the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities after five rounds of indirect nuclear talks with Tehran that stalled over issues like domestic nuclear enrichment.
Western countries accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Tehran maintains its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes.
Human rights watchdog says UK ‘risks over-policing’ Palestine Action protests in warning to home secretary
Tuesday 14 October 2025 23:30
,
Alex Croft
The home secretary has been warned by Europe’s human rights watchdog that the UK “risks over-policing” Palestine Action protests.
Michael O’Flaherty, commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, has asked the government to ensure counter-terrorism laws do not “unnecessarily restrict freedom of peaceful assembly”.
He also called for a comprehensive review of the UK’s protest legislation following a range of recent and upcoming changes placing tighter restrictions demonstrations to ensure they comply with international human rights laws, including the European Convention on Human Rights.
It comes after 2,000 people have been arrested in a series of major protests over the decision to designate Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin writes:
Watch: Trump threatens to disarm Hamas if they don't disarm themselves
Tuesday 14 October 2025 22:58
,
Alex Croft
Rebuilding Gaza could cost $70 billion, says UN agency
Tuesday 14 October 2025 22:29
,
Alex Croft
Rebuilding the Gaza Strip could cost 70 billion dollars, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said.
Jaco Cilliers, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Special Representative of the Administrator for the Palestinian people, said the destruction of Gaza is almost beyond comprehension.
Since January 2025, UNDP has safely assessed, removed, and recycled over 81,000 tons of debris, equivalent to 3,100 truckloads, it said in a statement.
Mr Cilliers said Gaza is one of the most destroyed places on earth, but one of the most determined to recover.
The most recent assessment is that $70 billion would be needed to recover and reconstruct Gaza.
Palestinian prisoners allege beatings in Israeli prisons
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:59
,
Alex Croft
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, where hundreds of prisoners and detainees were released on Monday, several were taken to hospitals.
Murad Barakat, medical director of the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, said the facility received 14 men and discharged all but two.
Their conditions suggested they "were subjected to severe beatings, reflecting the extent of the violence they endured," Imed al-Shami, a resident doctor at the hospital, said.
Kamal Abu Shanab, who was released after more than 18 years, said beatings caused his shoulder to tear. "For eight months, I wasn't given even a pill for the pain," he said.
AP could not independently verify the claims. Israel's Prison Service said it was unaware of such claims.
Nasser Hospital in Gaza said the Red Cross transferred the bodies of 45 Palestinians to its morgue. The bodies were the first of an expected 450 to arrive.
Starmer urges Hamas to return all deceased Israeli hostages
Tuesday 14 October 2025 21:39
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer has urged Hamas to return the remains of deceased Israeli hostages to their families in order to “honour the terms of the ceasefire”.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the families of the hostages, who he said had “endured terrible and protracted pain over the last two years at the hands of Hamas”.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Sir Keir said: “The release of the bodies of the deceased hostages is a profoundly difficult moment for the families who have endured terrible and protracted pain over the last two years at the hands of Hamas.
“The loss of Yossi Sharabi will be felt deeply by his family, after Hamas so cruelly drew out their horror and denied them the right to grieve.
“I know from meeting his family just how loved Yossi was, and how devastating this ordeal has been. My thoughts are with them, and all of the hostage families.”
The Prime Minister added: “Hamas must now return the remaining deceased hostages and honour the terms of the ceasefire.
“Moving forward, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure the next phase of the peace plan is implemented in full.”
Red Cross receives four hostages' bodies – Israeli military
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:44
,
Jane Dalton
The Israeli military says the Red Cross has received the bodies of four hostages from Gaza.
Trump: Hamas must disarm or we will disarm them, perhaps violently
Tuesday 14 October 2025 20:08
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump has said he wants the deceased hostages in Gaza to be released and warned Hamas that if they “don’t disarm, we will disarm them”.
The US president was speaking during a meeting in the White House with Argentinian president Javier Milei.
"If they don't disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently," he said.
Trump said he communicated this to Hamas and they had agreed to disarm, as his 20-point peace proposal stated.
"I spoke to Hamas, and I said, you're going to disarm, right? Yes, sir, we're going to disarm. That's what they told me," Trump said, later clarifying that he passed the message through intermediaries.
Trump said he communicated this to Hamas and they had agreed to disarm, as his 20-point peace proposal stated.
The comments came as the Red Cross is believed to be at a meeting point where Hamas is set to return the bodies of four more hostages, meaning there would be 20 bodies remaining in Gaza.
In Focus | What we know about ‘phase two’ of Trump’s ceasefire deal
Tuesday 14 October 2025 19:47
,
Alex Croft
“A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” Donald Trump told world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, heralding the success of the first phase of his peace agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war.
If the “first phase” sought to address the key demands of both sides – namely a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages to Israel – the second would focus on rebuilding the enclave in a way that guarantees lasting peace and security.
Trump acknowledged on Monday that the path to peace will be winding. The phases of the deal are “all a little bit mixed in with each other”, he said, assuring later that elements can still be taken “out of order in a positive way”.
Our foreign affairs reporter James Clark Reynolds writes:
Red Cross on way to meeting point to receive deceased hostages
Tuesday 14 October 2
