The Red Cross is en route to a meeting point in southern Gaza to receive coffins of individuals described as "space abductees," the IDF announced via X at approximately 7:31 PM UTC on October 18th, 2025. The IDF has requested sensitivity and adherence to official identification procedures for the families of the abductees. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported killing a Hezbollah operative in a drone strike in southern Lebanon earlier on October 18th, 2025, stating the operative was attempting to restore destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure. Over the past hour, the IDF stated that a Hezbollah operative was killed in a drone strike in Kfar Dounine, southern Lebanon, for "operating heavy machinery in an attempt to restore Hezbollah infrastructure in the area that had been destroyed during the fighting last year." This activity, according to the IDF, constituted a violation of understandings between Israel and Lebanon. Concurrently, the IDF announced via X that the Red Cross was on its way to a meeting point in southern Gaza to receive coffins of space abductees, requesting sensitivity and official identification procedures for families. Reports indicate that two hostages were killed, with one source suggesting the Red Cross convoy was on its way to IDF forces. Another report cited from X user @BarakRavid stated that Israel did not cut any aid despite threats, and that Hamas "found" three more hostage bodies after these threats, with more bodies reportedly available for immediate return. Hamas is required to abide by the agreement and make all necessary efforts to return the hostages, according to the IDF. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on "The Patriots" program, aired around 7:31 PM UTC on October 18th, 2025, that the Gaza war will officially conclude upon the return of all hostage bodies and the disarmament and demilitarization of Hamas, a stance also reported by AFP around the same time. This aligns with previous statements made by Netanyahu on October 18th, 2025, regarding the conditions for ending the conflict. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly conditioning their financial support for Gaza's reconstruction on the disarmament of Hamas, according to earlier reports from X users @kaisos1987 and @AyalaHasson on "NewShabbat."
