Benjamin Netanyahu 's office had said earlier on Saturday evening that it would stay closed "until further notice" - as the deadline for Hamas to return the bodies of the hostages had passed with no confirmation.
02:01, 19 Oct 2025
Israel has received the bodies of two more hostages from the Red Cross, the Israeli prime minister's office has confirmed.
Shortly after 10pm UK time on Saturday, Israel's military said Hamas handed over "two coffins of deceased hostages". No names were immediately released. The bodies were in Israel and were being taken to the country’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine.
The news came as tensions were beginning to rise over the closure of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Benjamin Netanyahu 's office had said earlier on Saturday evening that it would stay closed "until further notice" - as the deadline for Hamas to return the bodies of the hostages had passed with no confirmation.
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Mr Netanyahu had warned that its reopening would depend on how Hamas fulfilled its role in returning the remains of all 28 dead hostages. The handover brings the count of returned bodies to 12 hostages, up from 10, according to Israel's tally. Another 16 deceased hostages would then still have to be returned.
Some have spoken out and told of two years of torture and starvation living in Hamas tunnels - while others have been left so traumatised they are unable to speak about their ordeal.
Israel announced earlier Saturday that Gaza’s sole crossing with the outside world, Rafah, would stay closed “until further notice,” tying it to Hamas’ release of remains. On Thursday it had said the crossing likely would reopen Sunday.
The statement by Netanyahu ’s office on the Rafah crossing came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said it would reopen Monday for people returning to Gaza. Hamas called Netanyahu’s decision a violation of the ceasefire deal.
The Rafah crossing has been closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the Gaza side. A fully reopened crossing would make it easier for Gazans to seek medical treatment, travel or visit family in Egypt, home to tens of thousands of Palestinians.
An IDF spokesperson shared to X: "Two coffins of deceased hostages, escorted by IDF and ISA forces, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago and are on their way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out.
"IDF representatives are accompanying the families. The IDF urges the public to act with sensitivity and wait for official identification, which will first be communicated to the families of the deceased hostages."