If the Gaza ceasefire turns into a lasting peace, who will take charge of running the territory? You can watch Frank Gardner's analysis on Gaza's future below.

As we've been reporting, Israel has responded to Hamas's delays in handing over bodies of deceased hostages by threatening to restrict aid into Gaza and delay the reopening of the Rafah crossing.

The crossing is on the border between Gaza and Egypt, and is the southernmost point of exit from the Palestinian territory.

There are only two other border crossings from and into the Gaza Strip - Erez, between Israel and northern Gaza, and Kerem Shalom, between Israel and southern Gaza.

The Rafah crossing has largely remained closed since fighting broke out after the 7 October 2023 attacks.

In May 2024, the Israeli military announced it had taken "operational control" of the Gazan side of the crossing and closed it.

Eight months later, in February 2025, the Rafah crossing reopened briefly to allow wounded Palestinians to be evacuated for medical treatment.

Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan stipulates that "opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented" during a temporary ceasefire earlier this year.

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, reporting from Jerusalem

On the ground in Gaza, aid agencies say the humanitarian situation remains at crisis point.

Unicef's Tess Ingram says they are still waiting for the surge in aid into Gaza.

"Just because we have a ceasefire doesn't mean the famine is over or that the trauma disappears, so we really do need to get that aid in quickly and get it to people who need it," she says.

She says there is huge concern over the wellbeing of children in Gaza, adding: "Particularly as we are coming to winter here, it is a race against time for us to try and get the supplies in that people need going into the cold and wet weather."

There is also a need for tents, Ingram explains: "Again, so many families I’ve spoken to are without anywhere safe to sleep because their homes have been destroyed."

"We need to bring in blankets and shoes and winter clothes for children – it's good news we've had some of those clothes arrive, but it’s about getting them to the children."

Image source, Reuters

We've been contacting humanitarian agencies after Israel - as a result of Hamas delaying the handover of deceased Israeli hostages' bodies - threatened to halt the opening of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt and restrict aid entering Gaza.

Fikr Shalltoot, the Gaza director at Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), tells the BBC: "It is frankly outrageous that life-saving humanitarian aid and the lives of Palestinians are used by Israel as a bargaining chip in negotiations, when it is their obligation under international law to ensure its entry."

Shalltoot says that the aid entering Gaza so far is "a drop in the ocean compared to what is urgently needed", urging international governments to pressure Israel into open all crossings and allow a surge of aid across Gaza.

We'll bring you more reaction from aid charities when they come.

Devastation of Gaza makes it harder to track down - and return - bodiespublished at 13:03 BST 15 October

13:03 BST 15 October

Sebastian Usher
Middle East analyst

Image source, Reuters

The bodies of seven dead Israeli hostages have now been returned, meaning at least 20 still remain in Gaza.

The Israeli government has accused Hamas of failing to meet its commitments under the ceasefire deal - and has essentially threatened that aid won't be permitted into Gaza at the level needed unless this is resolved.

It's expected that four more bodies may be returned later today.

But both Hamas and the Red Cross have suggested that it may simply not be possible to track down every one of the bodies in the devastation of Gaza.

This is likely also to affect the recovery of the bodies of many Gazans believed to be buried beneath the rubble.

It's been five days since Israeli troops started to withdraw from Gaza after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

Those still inside the enclave are going about life as they know it, shopping at markets and waiting for aid to be allowed through the Rafah crossing.

Earlier, we heard from local residents who said some market traders and suppliers had begun hoarding items to create shortages and drive up profits.

Here are some of the latest images we're seeing:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Rasmieh Mohammad Khalil Qdeih is outside Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, awaiting news of her son who she says has been missing since the war between Hamas and Israel began.

"I don’t know whether he was imprisoned or martyred," she says of her son. "I contacted everyone, no one told me anything."

She tells the BBC:

"It’s been two years and a bit, and I’ve been waiting, and no one has told me anything about him.

"Every time a prisoner is released, I ask them - have you seen Fadi? Have you seen Mo’taz? Is he a prisoner, martyr, or missing? They say no.

"Everyone in Negev prison says they haven’t heard that name. Each one tells me something different."

A day after Hamas handed back all 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, the Red Cross said the remains of 45 deceased Palestinians who had been held in Israel were returned to Gaza.

Dr Mohammad Zaqout, the general director of hospitals in the enclave, says a team of specialists has since been formed to examine and identify those 45 bodies.

Officials in Gaza had been expecting to be provided with the names of those whose remains had been handed over, he tells a local Palestinian journalist working for the BBC, but they are still waiting.

"If we receive the names from the occupation, we will publish them," Zaqout explains.

"If not, we will be forced to create a link where photos of the identifiable martyrs will be posted, so that families can come to the field hospital at Nasser Medical Complex to identify their relatives and lay them to rest with dignity."

He adds: "There are also promises that we will receive more of these bodies in the coming days, provided that the process continues smoothly and without obstacles or problems."

Tom Bennett
Reporting from Jerusalem

Israel says that after conducting forensic examinations, it has concluded that one of the four bodies returned by Hamas last night is not that of an Israeli hostage.

This has happened before. In February, Hamas handed over what it said were the remains of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, alongside her two children Ariel and Kfir. But forensic testing later showed it was not Shiri’s body, prompting outrage in Israel. Hamas later returned the correct body.

The text of the ceasefire agreement does appear to acknowledge that Hamas may be unable to locate the remains of all hostages. It even stipulates the creation of an information-sharing mechanism to enable the group to pass on any intelligence on the whereabouts of the bodies it cannot locate to mediators.

Hamas says some of the hostages' bodies are trapped under rubble, and it has requested the entry of heavy machinery to help with the recovery efforts.

But there’s been anger in Israel at the slow pace of returns. The Israeli government believes the group is in possession of more bodies than have so far been handed over.

In response to the delays, Israel threatened last night to halt the opening of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt and restrict aid entering Gaza. As we've reported, this immediately bumped up the prices of basic goods in local markets.

There are fears Israel could go further - threatening this fragile ceasefire - but Donald Trump, Qatar, Egypt and much of the region appear determined for it to hold.

Image source, Reuters

In Israel:

• The bodies of three deceased Israeli hostages, returned by Hamas late on Tuesday, have been identified as Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levi - here's a reminder of how many have been released and how many remain in Gaza
• A fourth body handed over last night "does not match any of the hostages", the Israeli military has said
• Before that, Prime Minister Bejanmin Netanyahu said he was hopeful for peace in the next phase of the ceasefire deal, but that "all hell will break lose" if Hamas does not disarm

In Gaza:

• Israel has said humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza - and that the date for opening the crossing for the movement of people will be announced "later"
• Palestinians have told the BBC more food is available, but there's still no water or electricity - one woman told our Gaza correspondent that despite prices surging for some items (flour, oil, sugar), people are buying them "as if they don’t trust the calm will last long"

In the US:

• President Trump, whose peace plan helped to broker this first phase of the ceasefire, has said if Hamas does not disarm the US "will disarm them" - but he also said Hamas would disarm "because they said they were going to"

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

I’ve been speaking to the son of Amiram Cooper - one of the deceased Israeli hostages whose body is still being held in Gaza.

Rotem tells me that he and other hostage relatives are trying "to find the strength somehow to pick ourselves up... and continue the fight".

He says the realisation that some of their loved ones' bodies would not be returned on Monday was a "very big disappointment" for the families, who are trying to come to terms with the fact "it's not over and it's going to be a longer battle".

"It's clear to us that they [Hamas] could have and should have released more and they're playing games," Rotem says.

He calls on US President Donald Trump, Qatar, Egypt and other countries involved in the peace deal negotiations "to show Hamas that this is not acceptable".

There's a growing sense of unease in Gaza as Hamas delays handover of hostages' bodiespublished at 10:51 BST 15 October

10:51 BST 15 October

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent, in Istanbul

There are concerns in Gaza that Hamas’s delay in locating and transferring the bodies of Israeli hostages could trigger an Israeli response that might jeopardise this fragile ceasefire.

Israel threatened on Tuesday that it would reduce the number of aid trucks entering the enclave and postpone the reopening of the Rafah crossing - a move that immediately pushed up the prices of basic goods in local markets.

Many traders and suppliers began hoarding items to create shortages and drive up profits, fearing that the war could resume, local residents told the BBC.

On the streets of Gaza, many residents voiced fears that these developments could mark the beginning of the end of the truce.

"Every time we start to feel safe, new threats appear, and we fear the war will start all over again," says mother-of-six Neven Al-Mughrabi, a displaced resident from Gaza who lives in Khan Younis.

"I lost my house in Gaza City, I decided to stay here with my family because I don’t trust the ceasefire and we’re sick of displacement."

She also says a trader in Khan Younis's main market said demand for flour, oil and sugar surged within hours. "Despite the sudden rise of prices by about 30%, people are buying as if they don’t trust the calm will last long, everyone is afraid aid will stop," Neven says.

The growing unease comes as mediators meet in Egypt in a bid to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel, and keep the first phase of the ceasefire deal on track.

Before the ceasefire took effect, 48 Israeli hostages were still being held in Gaza, 28 of whom were believed to be dead.

Hamas handed back all 20 living hostages on Monday, and is gradually handing over the bodies of those deceased.

Four bodies were returned on Monday - they were later identified as Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Peretz.

Four more were handed over on Tuesday. Three of them have been identified as Uriel Baruch. Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levi, but Israel has said the fourth "does not match any of the hostages".

This means seven of the deceased hostages' bodies are confirmed to have been sent back to Israel, while 21 remain in Gaza.

• For context: The first phase of US President Donald Trump's peace plan had a deadline for Hamas to return all hostages - living and deceased - to Israel by noon local time on Monday. A copy of the ceasefire agreement, published by Israeli media last week, appeared to acknowledge that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may struggle to locate all of the bodies within that time frame.

Image source, Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Hamas handed over four bodies to Israel late on Tuesday - and it was thought they were all deceased hostages. It's just been announced by Israel that one was not.

The other three were - here's what we know about them.

• Uriel Baruch: The 35 year old was abducted from the Nova music festival. According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the father-of-two's family were informed by the Israeli military in March 2024 that he was killed on 7 October 2023 and that his body was taken back to Gaza as a hostage
• Tamir Nimrodi: The 20 year old was serving as an education officer at the Erez Crossing on 7 October 2023. The last time his mother saw him was in a video of his abduction posted on social media that day. His fate was unknown until his body was handed over. After his remains were formally identified, Tamir's family said that he had been "murdered in Hamas captivity"
• Eitan Levi: The 53 year old was a taxi driver from Bat Yam. He was killed by Hamas gunmen on a road close to the Gaza perimeter on 7 October 2023, while driving a friend to Be'eri. The father-of-one's body was then taken to Gaza, where Palestinians were filmed beating and kicking it

You can learn more about the released Israeli hostages here

The Israeli military says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas last night "does not match any of the hostages".

It says this is following examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

"Hamas is required to make all necessary efforts to return the deceased hostages," it says.

In an interview last night with the BBC's US partner CBS News, external, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is hopeful for peace in the next phase of the ceasefire deal, but that under the conditions of Trump's plan "all hell breaks lose" if Hamas doesn't disarm.

"I hope it doesn't," Netanyahu said. "I hope we can do this peacefully. We're certainly ready to do so."

"First, Hamas has to give up its arms," Netanyahu said. "And second, you want to make sure that there are no weapons factories inside Gaza. There's no smuggling of weapons into Gaza. That's demilitarisation."

• For context: Hamas has previously said it will not disarm unless a Palestinian state is established.

Last night, US President Donald Trump said Hamas "are going to disarm, because they said they were going to disarm".

"And if they don't disarm, we will disarm them," he said.

• For context: Part of Trump's 20-point peace plan says, in Gaza: "All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning."

Asked by a reporter how that would happen, the president said: "I don't have to explain that to you. But if they don't disarm, we will disarm them."

"They know I'm not playing games," Trump added.

After repeating the claim, the president said: "It will happen quickly and perhaps violently. But they will disarm, do you understand me?"

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Back to Gaza, and we've been hearing from two people in the Strip about the situation there days after a ceasefire came into effect.

Student Mahmoud Emad Rostom is in Khan Younis, and tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme Gazans are finding fruits and vegetables that they couldn't find three months ago.

"I think we could get access to chicken and meat, but the prices will be high because it would be the first time to have meat and chicken and such products at the market since six or eight months ago," he says.

Ghada Al Kourd is a journalist in central Gaza and is about to travel back to her home in Gaza City.

"Most of Gaza City is completely destroyed," she says. "There is no water, electricity, not like the ceasefire in January."

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has confirmed the names of three of the four deceased hostages who were returned to Israel by Hamas late on Tuesday evening.

It says they have officially been identified as Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levi - earlier their families confirmed the return of their remains.

In a statement, it adds that the government remains committed to returning "all of our fallen abductees for a proper burial in their own country" and presses Hamas "to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them within the framework of implementing the agreement".

As a reminder, the remains of 20 more Israeli hostages are believed to still be in Gaza.

Image source, Getty Images

Tess Ingram, from the UN children's fund Unicef, says aid workers have "got better access on the ground to distribute supplies to people".

"We are able to move into areas that we haven't been able to get to for a while," she tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Ingram, who is in Gaza, adds: "We have got more freedom of movement and so our teams are really scaling up distributions on the ground."

She says "people's emotions have gone on a bit of a rollercoaster from relief to uncertainty as to how this ceasefire could take effect".

"Now I think that has tinged with grief as they come to terms with the reality that the situation on the ground is so difficult and they have lost so much over the past two years."