Image source, Reuters

An Israeli memorial ceremony is taking place in Jerusalem today to mark two years on since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.

Addressing the ceremony, President Isaac Herzog thanks soldiers, calling them "warriors of courage who did not hesitate when called to rescue the state of Israel, to defeat the enemy, and to bring the hostages home".

"Because of our brave sons and daughters, because of the bereaved families, because of the wounded who sacrificed so much – because of all of them – we are here. We will never, ever forget this," he says.

He acknowledges that "this may not yet be the end" to the war, but adds that "hopefully, we are drawing near to it". He then goes on to call for the return of all the deceased hostages.

• A reminder, Hamas has released all 20 living Israeli hostages, but still needs to return the bodies of 19 of the 28 deceased hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also been addressing the ceremony in Hebrew - we're waiting on a translation of what he said, and will bring those comments to you when we get them.

Palestinian news agencies in Gaza report that a man has been killed in an apparent Israeli drone strike south-east of Khan Younis.

There are also reports that another two people have been seriously injured in a drone strike in Bani Suheila, a town north-east of Khan Younis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says there have been no strikes in Khan Younis today.

Image source, Reuters

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is calling for the Israeli government to stop implementing the next stages of the ceasefire deal if Hamas does not return the remaining hostages' bodies.

"While Hamas continues to violate the agreement and still holds 19 hostages captive, there is no justification for any unilateral concessions by Israel," it says in a statement.

"The agreement cannot continue to be implemented without Hamas returning all the hostages."

Hamas has said it needs time to recover the bodies of the remaining 19 deceased hostages, after releasing all 20 of the living hostages on Monday.

The Israeli hostage families group goes on to call out its own government, saying "the responsibility to bring every hostage home rests with the Israeli government", but it also stresses that that responsibility is shared by "the mediating parties who helped shape this deal".

"Hamas must fulfil its obligations under the deal."

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

We can now bring you a further update on the Rafah crossing into Gaza, after earlier reporting that Israel said "preparations are ongoing" for re-opening it for people - but not for aid.

Israel’s Kan radio is reporting that Israel has decided not to allow the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be opened unless Hamas makes a “greater effort” on the issue of returning deceased hostages.

The Israeli defence body, Cogat, says the date for the crossing to be re-opened “for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage”.

It said that preparations were ongoing with Egypt. Earlier, Egypt said that the Rafah crossing – often seen as Gaza’s “gateway to the world” – was fully ready to begin operations from the Egyptian side.

The head of Egypt’s state information service, Diaa Rashwan, told al-Arabiya al-Hadath that Israel had delayed its re-opening and that it was trying to disrupt the initial phase of implementing the ceasefire agreement.

The Saudi state-owned Al-Arabiya al-Hadath says its sources now expect the Rafah crossing to start operating in the middle of next week.

What we know about Trump's International Stabilisation Force in Gazapublished at 10:02 BST 16 October

10:02 BST 16 October

Tom Bennett
Reporting from Jerusalem

Image source, Getty Images

Under Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, a so-called International Stabilisation Force (ISF) would enter the territory to provide security and train a Palestinian police force as the Israeli military gradually withdraws.

Talks have taken place with several countries about contributing troops, reportedly including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Azerbaijan. The US has pledged up to 200 soldiers in a support role, though they would not be deployed inside Gaza.

During this transitional period, Hamas would be expected to hand power to an interim administration of Palestinian technocrats – overseen by Donald Trump.

Even with planning under way, any deployment is likely to be many months off – and only if political agreement is reached to proceed with the latter phases of Trump’s plan.

Major obstacles remain. Hamas has so far rejected the idea of disarmament or ceding control to an international body.

In recent days, as Palestinians have returned to devastated neighbourhoods, the group has been seen reasserting its grip on the territory, with images emerging of it carrying out public executions of alleged collaborators with Israel.

How big is the task of rebuilding Gaza?published at 09:36 BST 16 October

09:36 BST 16 October

By Paul Brown, Kayleen Devlin, Erwan Rivault and Barbara Metzler

As we've mentioned, Hamas says they will need specialist gear to uncover the bodies from the rubble in Gaza, which also contains unexploded ordnance.

Here are some more details on the scale of destruction.

• UN Development Programme special representative for the Palestinians, Jaco Cilliers, says the level of destruction is "now in the region of 84%. In certain parts of Gaza, like in Gaza City, it's even up to 92%"
• UN's satellite centre Unosat estimates a total of 282,904 houses and apartments across Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since 7 October 2023

But these figures are likely to be an underestimate, because they do not yet include the recent military operations in Gaza City, such as the destruction in Sheikh Radwan.

Assessments by BBC Verify based on recent satellite data suggest there could be over 60 million tonnes of debris waiting to be cleared in Gaza.

Clean water is a major immediate need; according to estimates from Unicef, more than 70% of the territory's 600 water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

Since October 2023, Gaza has also experienced a near-total electricity blackout after Israel cut external electricity.

• Read more on the scale of destruction from our team at BBC Verify

Alex Smith
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It's been a busy few days, with the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees - here's a recap of what happened:

Monday

After the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire deal was agreed, Hamas was given until midday local time (10:00 BST) on Monday to return the remaining 48 hostages - 20 believed to be alive - to Israel.

Two separate handovers of the 20 living hostages took place on Monday. But the remains of only four deceased hostages were returned - this was criticised by Israel, with an Israeli military spokesperson demanding Hamas "uphold its end of the deal".

In return 250 Palestinian prisoners and about 1,700 detainees were released by Israel.

Image source, Reuters

Tuesday

Four more bodies were released by Hamas, amid uncertainty over the state of the ceasefire and threats from Israel to restrict aid to Gaza if more aren't returned.

Meanwhile, the bodies of around 45 Palestinians killed during the war and taken by the Israeli military were returned to Gaza

Wednesday

Israel identified the four bodies released by Hamas the previous night, saying one "does not match any of the hostages".

The bodies of another 45 Palestinians were returned, and work was underway to identify their remains.

Later in the day, the remains of two more hostages were released. That leaves 19 still unaccounted for, and Hamas said "significant efforts and specialised equipment" are required to find the rest.

We can bring you some more lines from the Israeli military, which has just reiterated that aid will not be passing through the Rafah crossing.

Cogat - the Israel military body in charge of aid - tells the BBC that preparations for the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people is "ongoing".

"The date for the opening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people only will be announced at a later stage" once preparations are complete, it says.

It reiterates its comments from yesterday, that "humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. This was never agreed upon at any stage".

"Humanitarian aid continues to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and additional crossings following Israeli security inspection, in full compliance with the signed agreement," it says.

• For context: The Rafah crossing has largely remained closed since fighting broke out after the 7 October 2023 attacks. The UN this morning has called on Israel to re-open more crossings, to "allow the massive surge of humanitarian aid"

Image source, Reuters

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

We’re still waiting for news about today’s expected opening of Egypt’s Rafah crossing point with Gaza.

It’s the strip’s only crossing outside of Israel.

At first it is due to be open for people, enabling sick and wounded Palestinians to exit for treatment. A list of individuals has already been approved by Egyptian and Israeli officials.

A European Union mission will be deployed at Rafah to monitor operations working with officials from the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli defence body which controls Gaza crossings, Cogat, tells the BBC: “Preparations for the opening of the Rafah Crossing for the movement of people are ongoing in full co-ordination between Israel and Egypt, in accordance with the signed agreement.”

Israel had warned it could keep Rafah closed and stop aid entering Gaza because it accused Hamas of returning the bodies of dead hostages too slowly. Sending back these remains is part of the ceasefire deal.

Egypt remains a key supply route for urgently needed aid to get into Gaza. However, this is currently being driven along the border to Israel’s main Kerem Shalom crossing for security checks before it is allowed to enter.

David Gritten
BBC News

A health official in Gaza says experts are working to identify the bodies of 90 Palestinians handed over by Israel in exchange for the dead hostages held by Hamas.

If unsuccessful, photos are to be posted online so families can search for missing relatives, Dr Mohammed Zaqout, director general of hospitals for the Hamas-run health ministry says.

Footage filmed by a freelance journalist working for the BBC at Nasser Hospital’s mortuary appears to show the body of a blindfolded man. Another body seems to have marks around the wrists and ankles.

The BBC has asked the Israeli military and justice ministry for comment. They have previously rejected accusations of widespread ill-treatment and torture of detainees.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel has agreed to hand over the bodies of 15 Palestinians in return for every deceased Israeli hostage.

Zaqout says the first group of bodies returned by Israel contains some which “are clearly recognisable, while others are difficult to identify”.

Read our story for more on the identification of the Palestinian bodies.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Image source, Reuters

The dispute over the return of dead hostages has threatened the ceasefire deal – and led Israel to reduce promised aid supplies to Gaza.

After another two bodies sent by Hamas were found to have belonged to hostages, the remains of 19 are still missing.

A senior US adviser told reporters that the recovery of all the bodies could take weeks because of the level of destruction in Gaza.

He said rewards may be offered for Gazan civilians who give information and that Turkish experts were expected to join the search.

Looking to the next steps of the US peace plan, the two aides said that qualified members of the Palestinian diaspora could be part of a new technocratic administration and that there were talks with "different Arab and Muslim countries" on joining an international stabilisation force.

Demilitarisation was described as "very complex".

Image source, X

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher is urging Israel to open more crossings into Gaza to allow a surge of aid in the territory - as was guaranteed under the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Israel warned earlier this week that it would limit supplies into Gaza after Hamas did not return the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages by Monday.

"Withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip," Fletcher says on X, adding: "As Israel has agreed, they must allow the massive surge of humanitarian aid."

Fletcher is also calling for Hamas to "make strenuous efforts to return all the bodies of the deceased hostages".

On Wednesday, the key Rafah crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza remained closed.

Meanwhile in Gaza, people have begun stockpiling food as prices surge over fears the ceasefire may not hold.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

As we've reported, Hamas says it can't find the bodies of any more Israeli hostages - and, with Israel demanding their return, the future of the Gaza ceasefire has been questioned.

But in a call with reporters last night, senior US advisers downplayed that risk.

The advisers said there was "understanding" to get all the live hostages, which Hamas did "honour".

We have a "mechanism in place", and are working with mediators to get as many bodies "as possible" out, they explained.

"We continue to hear from them that they intend to honour the deal," an adviser said.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

The Israeli military says the two deceased hostages returned by Hamas have been identified as Inbar Hayman and Muhammad al-Atarash.

It says it believes Hayman was "murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7, 2023, and her body was abducted to the Gaza Strip".

Her family previously said she was kidnapped during the attack on the Nova festival. She was the last remaining female hostage being held by Hamas.

Al-Atrash, a sergeant-major in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), "fell in battle on the morning of October 7 and his body was kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization", it says. Last year the IDF confirmed he was killed while fighting Hamas gunmen near Nahal Oz.

"The IDF shares in the grief of the families, continues to invest all efforts in the return of the fallen hostages and is preparing to continue implementing the agreement," the statement reads.

Image source, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum / Portfolio Magazine

Late last night in Gaza, Hamas returned the remains of two more Israeli hostages, under the terms of a Gaza ceasefire deal championed by US President Donald Trump.

This morning, Israel confirmed they belong to Inbar Hayman, 27, and Muhammad al-Atarash, 39.

Hamas is required to return all 28 dead hostages as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan - but at the moment 19 are unaccounted for. Hamas says the remaining ones "require significant efforts and specialised equipment to search for and retrieve".

That has raised some doubts about whether the ceasefire will hold. But, in an update on Wednesday evening, two senior US advisers remained optimistic.

They said conversations with mediators remain "positive", and that Hamas intends to honour the deal.

We're resuming our live coverage here this morning - and will bring you the key lines as they happen.

Israel says it is undertaking identification procedures on two more bodies returned via the Red Cross.

Hamas confirmed the handover, but says it has now returned all of the hostages' bodies it can access, and that specialist equipment will be required to find and retrieve the others.

If the two bodies handed over tonight are confirmed to be hostages it will mean 19 still remain in Gaza.

Speaking after Hamas's statement, senior US advisers say they do not believe Hamas has so far broken the ceasefire agreement.

We're pausing our live updates now, but you can read more on the BBC website here:

• Hamas returns two more bodies but says it cannot retrieve remaining dead hostages
• UN humanitarian chief urges Israel to open more crossings into Gaza

• 'Worse than starting from scratch': how big is the task of rebuilding Gaza?

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

I've just wrapped up a briefing call in which senior US advisers provided on update on the implementation of the 20-point peace plan.

According to those advisers, the US government does not so far believe Hamas has broken the agreement by not yet retrieving the remains of remaining deceased hostages.

The officials argue that Hamas has acted in good faith by returning the live hostages, and is working with various interlocutors to find and return the remains of hostages.

Additionally, the advisers say the US is "working with the mediators" to urge Hamas to avoid killing Palestinian civilians, and is working with Israel to create "safe spaces" behind the yellow-line for people to flee if they feel under threat.

In the longer term, the advisers say they do not see a future for Hamas to govern parts of Gaza.

The current focus, according to the advisers, is on "de-confliction" that would allow aid to flow into Gaza and reconstruction to begin, with an international security force still in its early stages.

Image source, EPA

Trump has just been speaking at the White House, where in brief remarks about Gaza he says he cannot foresee the need for the US military to get directly invovled.

He was asked about a statement made by a senior US military official earlier today calling for Hamas to lay down its weapons, and whether it was a signal to the group that the US would get involved unless it disarms.

"We won't need the US military," Trump says.

Asked if he can see a reason for the US military to get involved in Gaza, Trump says: "No, I don't see that".

"We will be helping Israel but we have other countries... many countries signed," Trump says, referring to the ceasefire deal. "Many of those countries relatively are very strong military powers and Hamas has no support," he adds.

Trump also says graves and tunnels are being dug in Gaza to help find the bodies of Israeli hostages that have not yet been returned.

It comes after Trump said last night that if Hamas does not disarm then "we will disarm them".

Donald Trump says he will consider approving Israel to resume military action if Hamas refuses to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal.

Speaking to CNN, the president says Israeli forces could return to the streets of Gaza "as soon as I say the word".

“I had to hold them back,” the president tells the outlet, referring to the IDF and Netanyahu administration, adding: "I had it out with Bibi."

He goes on: “What’s going on with Hamas – that’ll be straightened out quickly."

We're listening to the president speaking elsewhere now - we'll bring you his latest comments on the Middle East shortly.

The IDF says it has collected two bodies from the Red Cross in Gaza and they are now back inside Israel.

Israeli authorities have not specified which of the hostages have been recovered this evening, with formal identification yet to take place.