Turkey dispatched 81 search and rescue personnel, along with equipment and vehicles, to the Gaza Strip on October 15th, 2025, to aid in locating bodies, according to a report citing Ankara. The Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt will not open today, a decision stemming from sanctions against Hamas for the slow release of hostage bodies, an Israeli security official told The Times of Israel this morning. Humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza as usual through other crossings following security inspections. The closure of the Rafah Crossing comes after Israel decided yesterday not to reopen it, though the official noted the crossing may not have been ready for opening today regardless. Preparations are underway for its eventual opening for the exit and entry of Gazans only. Meanwhile, the MDA reported five wounded individuals following a shooting incident, with two in serious condition, according to initial reports from N12. Further details on the shooting incident, which occurred from a motorcycle, indicate three individuals were seriously wounded at the scene, and the event is being investigated as likely criminal. This incident follows previous reports from this morning detailing Israeli forces arresting 15 Palestinians in the town of Nassar, northeast of Rafah, and two fatalities in Shuja'iyyeh, Gaza City, during an IDF assault. These events occurred between 10:06 AM and 11:06 AM UTC on October 15th, 2025. Earlier reports also indicated that the IDF confirmed one of four bodies handed over by Hamas overnight was not an Israeli hostage but a Gazan individual, possibly mistakenly delivered. The IDF continues efforts to locate and return all abductees. Separately, the IDF announced the reopening of Zikim Beach near the northern Gaza Strip border to the public starting October 16th, 2025, a decision approved by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
