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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-14 at 18:06
HEADLINES
Twenty Hostages Freed Four Bodies Returned
Gaza Aid Capped at 300 Trucks
US and Europe Push Open Gaza Crossings
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 2:00 PM, here is the latest hourly update on the Middle East with a focus on Gaza, hostages, and regional diplomacy.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire framework has produced a living return and at least some of the remains, but major challenges remain. Twenty hostages who were held in Gaza were released and returned to Israel, while four bodies were handed over. Israeli officials have said that 24 bodies of slain hostages still remain in Gaza, and that further returns could hinge on progress in related ceasefire provisions. The United States has framed this as a milestone, but stressed that more work lies ahead as the second phase of the agreement is set to unfold.
In parallel, Israel says it will restrict aid into Gaza, limiting daily entry to about 300 trucks, far short of the 600 trucks envisioned in the ceasefire terms. Israel also signaled it would curb the flow of fuel and gas into the enclave except for humanitarian needs. The restriction follows Hamas’s failure to return the remains of all deceased Israeli hostages within the 72-hour window that Israel and Hamas had agreed upon. The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have called for all crossings into Gaza to be opened to meet the humanitarian needs of civilians.
Among the newly identified hostages, four bodies were confirmed as returned: Captain Daniel Peretz, Yossi Sharabi, Guy Illouz, and Bipin Joshi. The Israeli Defense Forces said Illouz died from untreated wounds, while Sharabi was likely killed in an airstrike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife visited the hospital to meet the recently released hostages and their families, reaffirming a commitment to bring home every captive. Doctors and family members have described varying degrees of recovery and ongoing medical care for those released, with families expressing gratitude to caregivers and the support network surrounding the hospitals.
On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump has described the recent hostage releases as lifting a “big burden” while saying the job is not finished and that phase two of the Gaza deal begins now. The administration has signaled that while the initial step has been achieved, the broader framework will require careful coordination with regional partners. Analysts note that while a signing ceremony in Egypt last week drew high-profile attention, many of the operational details of Trump’s 20-point peace plan remain to be negotiated, and follow-through will depend on practical measures taken by all parties.
Europe and other partners weighed in as well. EU ministers discussed how Europe might contribute to supporting the peace framework, with European leaders emphasizing the need for a credible path to a broader settlement in Gaza. Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, said decommissioning Hamas could be a model drawn from Northern Ireland as part of a broader effort to disarm militant factions in Gaza, underscoring the belief that a lasting ceasefire requires more than a temporary pause in hostilities.
In Gaza, Hamas has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of the ceasefire provisions. An Israeli official said Hamas’s decision last week to release only a portion of the living hostages and to return only a few remains has complicated efforts to advance to the next phase. Analysts warn that without complete cooperation on the return of remains and the sharing of information about missing hostages, progress toward broader political and security objectives will be constrained.
Within Israel, public statements by officials have reinforced resolve to recover all captives and remains. Prime Mi
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