The Rafah crossing will open for Gaza residents to leave and for the delivery of 600 trucks of humanitarian aid on October 15th, 2025, following the return of four abducted victims. The decision to cancel planned sanctions on Hamas was made by the political echelon due to the return of the victims and the intention to return more for burial today, as confirmed by Israeli sources. The crossing's opening is coordinated with Egypt, requires security approval from Israel, and will be supervised by a European Union delegation. According to Israeli news sources, the political echelon decided to cancel sanctions on Hamas after four abducted victims were returned on October 15th, 2025, with the intention of returning more victims for burial today. This decision led to the opening of the Rafah crossing as planned for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The bodies of two presumed hostages were escorted by IDF forces across the border into Israel on October 15th, 2025, shortly before 9:36 PM UTC, and are en route to the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification. This follows previous confirmations from the IDF that the bodies were handed over by Hamas via Red Cross vehicles within Gaza earlier in the day. Previously, the IDF confirmed that two bodies of hostages were en route from Hamas to IDF troops in northern Gaza via Red Cross vehicles on October 15th, 2025. Hamas stated they have handed over the hostage bodies in their possession and are facing difficulties recovering the remaining 19 deceased hostages due to a need for specialized equipment. Israeli officials maintain that Hamas knows the exact locations of the bodies of the remaining detainees. Hamas has not identified the two hostages whose bodies are being returned, according to IDF statements.
