Phase Two Commences as Hostage Remains and Aid Woes Dominate News
In a dramatic turn in the Gaza crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared that phase two of the Gaza ceasefire has begun. The announcement came as the remains of four deceased hostages were expected to be transferred to Israeli custody in the coming hours, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and mediation intermediaries.
The IDF confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was en route to a southern Gaza meeting point to receive the coffins and relocate the bodies into Israeli care. An official involved in the operation told Reuters that Hamas had informed mediators it would begin transferring the bodies at 10 p.m. local time.
Trump celebrated the day’s earlier releases on his social platform, noting that 20 hostages released in the morning were “feeling as good as can be expected,” but added, “The dead have not been returned, as promised! Phase two begins right now.” The statement framed the development as a partial step in a longer, unresolved negotiation.
What Phase Two Entails for Gaza and International Mediations
Israeli officials indicated that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would remain closed at least through Wednesday, with aid flows into Gaza expected to be reduced to pressure Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages’ bodies. The ceasefire that began the prior week had seen a live-hostage exchange and a simultaneous release of roughly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The exchange left 23 hostages in Gaza formally declared dead, plus one whose status remains undetermined.
The Israeli military said the four recovered bodies had been identified, including a Nepalese student among them. Families of hostages have voiced fear that some remains might never be recovered amid Gaza’s rubble, prompting discussions of a special international task force to assist in locating missing bodies.
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Questions about the durability of the ceasefire persisted as aid deliveries did not reach the planned cadence. UN officials and international donors have warned that limited truck numbers and fuel constraints hamper humanitarian relief. On Tuesday, Israel reportedly agreed to allow 300 aid trucks to Gaza—roughly half of the originally proposed daily amount—along with restricted fuel access, a shift confirmed by a note seen by Reuters and corroborated by the UN.
Humanitarian Access and Security Tensions
UN OCHA spokesperson Olga Cherevko confirmed receipt of the note from COGAT, the Israeli military unit coordinating aid flows. The note cited Hamas’s perceived violations as the reason for the scaled-back aid and for the ongoing debates about body handovers and ceasefire compliance. COGAT had previously indicated it expected up to 600 aid trucks daily during moments of intense ceasefire adherence.
Amid discussions about the post-ceasefire order, Hamas quickly reclaimed visible influence across Gaza’s urban districts as Israeli troops had begun withdrawing. A disturbing video circulated showing Hamas fighters detaining and executing several men in a Gaza City square, underscoring the violence’s persistence even as the ceasefire persisted on the surface. A Hamas source confirmed the authenticity of the footage, though Reuters could not verify every visual detail independently.
Longer-Term Questions and Regional Dynamics
The international community has paused at a critical juncture: whether to pursue a broader mechanism for governance, enforce credentials for an international security framework, or push for disarmament and more sustainable humanitarian corridors. A summit in Egypt, hosted with some involvement from Trump aides, concluded without a public declaration of progress toward any comprehensive marshalling of forces or new governance structures in Gaza.
While high-level diplomacy continues, the day-to-day lives of civilians remain precarious. The ABC has reported ongoing low-level discussions, signaling that discreet diplomacy persists even as public narratives diverge on accountability and timelines. The situation remains fluid, with humanitarian agencies reiterating the need for reliable access and protection for civilians amid ongoing clashes and security patrols.
