Israel said to cancel planned Gaza sanctions as Hamas expedites return of dead hostages

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire, October 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire, October 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)

The government has reportedly decided to cancel the sanctions planned for today, which were set to include limiting humanitarian aid and keeping the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt shut.

The measures were announced yesterday after Hamas initially only handed over the remains of four out of 28 dead hostages held in the Strip by Palestinian terrorists.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, the leadership has canceled the steps due to Hamas returning last night what it claims is the bodies of four more hostages. The bodies have been taken to a forensics institution, where the identification process may take up to two days. Hamas hasn’t named these four hostages.

Additionally, Hamas has informed the mediators that it will transfer four more bodies of deceased hostages to Israel later today, a Middle Eastern diplomat and a second source familiar with the matter have told The Times of Israel.

Therefore, the Rafah crossing will reopen today and the humanitarian aid will be fully allowed into Gaza, as planned, according to Kan.

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