The bodies of four dead Israeli hostages in coffins have been handed to the Red Cross, the Israeli military says.
It means there are 20 dead hostages left in Gaza, after a total of 20 living and eight dead hostages were released during a fragile ceasefire that now appears at risk of faltering after accusations of breaches from both sides.
Earlier on Tuesday, seven Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on suspects who they say approached soldiers near an agreed-upon ceasefire line in northern Gaza on Tuesday.
The military said several suspects were shot at to remove the “threat” due to a “violation of the ceasefire agreement”.
They included five people killed by Israeli drone strike as they returned to check on their homes in Gaza's eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood, according to authorities.
US president Donald Trump vowed on Monday to “rebuild Gaza” after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and detainees, bringing a brutal two-year conflict in the enclave to an end.
But after the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh he avoided taking a stance on a Palestinian state.
"I'm not talking about single state or double state or two-state. We're talking about the rebuilding of Gaza," he said.
Key Points
- Red Cross receives four hostages' bodies – Israeli military
- Trump: Hamas must disarm or we will disarm them, perhaps violently
- Seven Palestinians killed in Gaza after ceasefire 'violation'
- Israel to halve the agreed aid over return of hostage bodies - UN
- Trump declares Phase Two of ceasefire has begun - with no further detail
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 CroftDonald 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 CroftOn 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
00:00 , Alex CroftIran'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
23:30 , Alex CroftThe 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:
Human rights watchdog says UK risks ‘over-policing’ Palestine Action protests
Watch: Trump threatens to disarm Hamas if they don't disarm themselves
22:58 , Alex CroftRebuilding Gaza could cost $70 billion, says UN agency
22:29 , Alex CroftRebuilding 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
21:59 , Alex CroftIn 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
21:39 , Alex CroftSir 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
20:44 , Jane DaltonThe 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
20:08 , Alex CroftDonald 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
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
19:36 , Alex CroftThe Red Cross is on its way to a meeting point in Gaza to receive the bodies of more dead hostages set to be released by Hamas on Tuesday evening.
The Palestinian militant group said it would release the four bodies at 10pm local time (8pm UK time).
This will mean eight deceased hostages have been released since Monday, along with the 20 living ones.
Another 20 bodies of deceased hostages remain in Gaza. It is unclear how many of these have been located and are ready to be returned.
Trump declares Phase Two of ceasefire has begun - with no further detail
19:24 , Alex CroftDonald 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!!!”
Ceasefire came despite, not because of, Israeli leadership - mother of survivor
18:58 , Alex CroftWe’re now hearing from Anat Angrest, mother of captivity survivor Matan Angrest.
She says ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza came about despite, not because of, some members of the Israeli leadership.
“When I look at my child readjusting to freedom, it's hard for me to think that there were those who were willing to give up on him,” she said.
“That the agreement that brought him back was signed despite some people in the leadership, and not because of them.”
She says that for “42 hostages it is now too late”.
Iair Horn, who was released in February and whose brother, Eitan, was released on Monday.
He teared up as he reeled off a list of thanks to those who supported the families of hostages and who helped to secure his brother and his own release.
He says it is thanks to president Donald Trump that he is alive and that “finally, my younger brother is here too”.
Hostage families thank Trump for 'determination'
18:43 , Alex CroftA group of family members of the hostages are giving statements at Ichilov Hospital.
Lishay Miran-Lavi, the wife of captivity survivor Omri Miran, has 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”.
Families of hostages to issue statement shortly
18:35 , Alex CroftThe families of hostages who were returned to Israel yesterday are due to give a statement from the hospitals they are in shortly.
We will bring you all the latest lines.
Bodies of two dead hostages returned to Israel identified
18:23 , Alex CroftThe remains of two dead hostages returned to Israel by Hamas have been identified as Daniel Peretz and Yossi Sharabi.
In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed the names.
The group said it "embraces the family of Daniel Shimon Peretz following the return of their beloved Daniel to Israel yesterday for a proper burial".
It added: "Yossi's [Yossi Sharabi's] return brings some measure of solace to a family that has live in unbearable uncertainty and doubt for over two years."
The BBC had earlier confirmed the names, with Yossi Sharabi’s wife, Nira, telling the broadcaster: “Now we can end the nightmare that started more than two years ago and allow Yossi a respectful and loving burial in the soil of Kibbutz Be’eri that he loved so much.”
The names come after the bodies of Guy Iluz and Bipin Joshi were identified yesterday, making up the four deceased hostages who have been released.
Hamas are set to return four more bodies at 10pm local time (8pm UK time) tonight.
Israel to halve the agreed aid over return of hostage bodies - UN
18:02 , Alex CroftIsrael has told the United Nations it will only allow 300 aid trucks, half the agreed number, into the Gaza Strip from Wednesday.
No fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure, according to a note seen by Reuters and confirmed by the UN.
Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, confirmed the UN had received the note from Cogat, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into Gaza.
Cogat had said on Friday that it expected about 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire.
The Cogat note said the restrictions were being taken because Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages.
Full report: Fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire after seven Palestinians killed and aid cut off
17:58 , Alex CroftThere 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 also announced it will keep the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed and restrict aid until Hamas returns the bodies of deceased hostages. Four were returned as part of the hostage exchange Monday and Hamas has announced four more will be returned Tuesday evening - but 20 more remain.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said five Palestinians were killed after approaching troops in Gaza City’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood, the Times of Israel reports.
James C. Reynolds brings the full report:
Fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire after seven Palestinians killed and aid cut off
No surge in aid yet, say humanitarian groups
17:36 , Alex CroftThe expected surge in aid into Gaza has not taken place yet, humanitarian and aid groups have said.
"We need all crossings open. The longer Rafah stays closed the more the suffering prolongs for people in Gaza, especially those displaced in the South," UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said.
Israel said it would keep the Rafah crossing to aid deliveries closed until Hamas returns the bodies of deceased hostages.
COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into Gaza, said on Friday that it expected about 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire. It did not respond to a request for further comment on Tuesday.
All of the aid so far has been through the south and central crossing of Kissufim, UN agencies said, with those at the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, to where tens of thousands of people are returning, still shut.
Talking of the surge in aid expected into Gaza, ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon told reporters in Geneva the “shift has not yet happened”.
She added: “We are still witnessing only few trucks coming in, and large crowds approaching these trucks in a way that does absolutely not conform to humanitarian standards.”
UN humanitarian chief calls on both sides to abide by agreement
17:23 , Alex CroftThe UN’s humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has called on both Israel and Hamas to abide by the ceasefire agreement to allow for the mass, unimpeded rollout of aid in Gaza.
"We need the agreement to be implemented in full by both sides," he said.
"So, that does mean that Hamas has got to get the bodies home, as they promised.
"But it also means that Israel has to keep the crossings open and allow us to deliver the aid that is so desperately needed at scale.
"We can't let this agreement get derailed."
BREAKING: Hamas to release bodies of four dead hostages at 10pm (8pm UK time)
17:07 , Alex CroftHamas has informed mediators it will begin transferring bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages to Israel at 10 p.m. local time (8pm UK time) on Tuesday, an official involved in the operation has told Reuters news agency
Earlier, Israeli officials said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would stay closed at least through Wednesday and the flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave would be reduced to put pressure on the militant group to hand over the bodies of the hostages it is holding.
Israel will keep Rafah crossing closed until all dead hostages released
17:06 , Maira ButtIsrael has said it will keep the Rafah crossing closed until the bodies of every dead hostage is returned to Israel.
Hamas told mediators that it will return the bodies of four hostages on Tuesday night.
Israeli authorities said that Hamas had not made any significant effort to locate the deceased.
Jordan denounces Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque
16:52 , Maira ButtIsrael’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been denounced for storming the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
It marked the second time the minister had done so in a week, accompanied by Israeli settlers.
Jordan’s foreign ministry released a statement on Tuesday calling the move “a flagrant violation of the existing legal and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
It said: “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.”
Hamas executes 7 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel
16:21 , Maira ButtHamas has confirmed it has executed seven people for collaborating with Israeli forces.
In a video circulating online, fighters from the militant group were seen dragging seven men into a circle in Gaza City before forcing them to their knees and shooting them from behind.
A Hamas source confirmed the authenticity of the video to Reuters.
Deadly clashes have erupted in recent days after Israel withdrew its military control from around half of the Strip.
Reports suggest the group had killed 33 people in a crackdown on militia members in recent days.
Palestinians begin to clear rubble as UN says 80 per cent of Strip destroyed
16:10 , Maira ButtPalestinians have begun the lengthy work of clearing up the rubble in the devastation of Gaza.
The UN Development Programme said that 80 per cent of the buildings in the Strip had been destroyed and that 55 million tonnes of rubble was left.
Dead bodies are being found regularly in the remains of the buildings, according to local reports.
Flow of aid to be reduced into Rafah, say Israeli officials
15:48 , Maira ButtThe flow of aid will be reduced into Rafah, three Israeli officials have said on Tuesday.
The decision came after Hamas did not return all the bodies of dead hostages to Israel on Monday, according to Reuters.
Hamas had indicated that locating the bodies would take time, but families have accused the group of breaching the ceasefire agreement.
Hostage families call on Steve Witkoff to bring dead loved ones home
15:30 , Maira ButtThe Hostages and Missing Families forum have called on US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to “pull out every stop and leave no stone unturned in demanding that Hamas fulfill their end of the agreement and bring all the remaining hostages home.”
They added: “We must ensure that all remaining hostages come home. We cannot rest, and we know you will not rest, until every last hostage is returned.”
Four bodies were returned to Israel, with 24 still outstanding.
How a historic day for peace in the Middle East unfolded
15:03 , Maira ButtIn pictures: Trucks carrying aid pass displacement tents
14:43 , James Reynolds
What we know about ‘phase two’ of Trump’s ceasefire deal
14:26 , James ReynoldsIf 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.
Donald Trump says that the ceasefire agreement is in its second phase - but details remain unclear:
UK risks "over policing" Palestine Action protests, watchdog warns
14:15 , James ReynoldsEurope’s human rights watchdog has warned that the UK risks “over-policing” Palestine Acton protests.
Michael O’Flaherty, commissioner for human rights at the Council of Europe, asked the government to ensure that counter-terrorism laws do not “unnecessarily restrict freedom of peaceful assembly”.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since the ban on the group under the Terrorism Act came into effect in July.
Human rights watchdog says UK risks ‘over-policing’ Palestine Action protests
Phase two of Gaza discussions have begun, says Qatar
14:00 , Maira ButtQatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, told Fox News that the second part of a Gaza ceasefire plan is now being discussed.
“It’s a historic day. This is a day that we have been waiting for for years, especially for the past two years. We are thankful to President Trump,” he said on Monday.
“We have to be realistic. This is a war that has raged on for two years. The ramifications of this war will continue for decades for the people in Israel and Gaza.”
He added: “The next steps are going to be very difficult. We have delayed a lot of discussions over stage two in order to make sure that stage one happens and we have all the hostages home and we have this moment.
“Now the difficult discussions have begun, over how it’s going to look like to secure Gaza, to administrate Gaza and to make sure that we don’t go to war again.
“Talks have already begun in Sharm el-Sheikh and all our teams are working around the clock to ensure there is no gap between stage one and stage two.”
The 20-point ceasefire plan created by the US and Israel outlined three phases to end the globally unpopular military action by Israel in Gaza.
First bodies of Palestinians 'arrive in Gaza'
13:52 , James ReynoldsThe first bodies of Palestinians killed during the Gaza war have arrived in the enclave after being released by Israel, local health authorities told Reuters on Tuesday.
Israel still holds hundreds of bodies of Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, including of fighters who took part in the attack and the fighting afterwards.
‘All we see is destruction’: Palestinians pulling bodies from the rubble of Gaza fear the fragile ceasefire will not last
13:41 , Maira ButtAs the dust settles on what remains of the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are beginning the long road to recovering what is left of their lives.
Since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect last week, thousands have made the long journey north, many unable to recognise anything resembling their old neighbourhoods.
‘All we see is destruction’: Palestinians fear the fragile ceasefire will not last
"We have the chance to bring a terrible chapter in history finally to a close": Starmer
13:36 , James ReynoldsKeir Starmer told the Commons that there is finally “a chance” to bring the war to an end on Tuesday.
Addressing parliament, the prime minister said that he had waited a “very long time” to say that the surviving hostages have been released, and the bombardment of Gaza has stopped.
“Desperately needed aid is starting to enter as a result of the peace plan led by President Trump. We have the chance - and it is a chance - to bring a terrible chapter in history finally to a close”.
Mapped: Israel agreed to withdraw to an agreed-upon line for phase one of ceasefire deal
13:22 , Maira ButtIsrael said that the Palestinians had breached an agreed-upon line as they went to check on their houses.
Jordan denounces Israeli minister Ben-Gvir's incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque
12:59 , Maira ButtIsrael’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has been denounced for storming the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
It marked the second time the minister had done so in a week, accompanied by Israeli settlers.
Jordan’s foreign ministry released a statement on Tuesday calling the move “a flagrant violation of the existing legal and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
It said: “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.”
Hamas executes 7 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel
12:41 , Maira ButtHamas has confirmed it has executed seven people for collaborating with Israeli forces.
In a video circulating online, fighters from the militant group were seen dragging seven men into a circle in Gaza City before forcing them to their knees and shooting them from behind.
A Hamas source confirmed the authenticity of the video to Reuters.
Deadly clashes have erupted in recent days after Israel withdrew its military control from around half of the Strip.
Reports suggest the group had killed 33 people in a crackdown on militia members in recent days.
