Amid the violence and new Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, a key diplomatic process continues. Hamas handed over two bodies of deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday, which were received by Israeli forces via the Red Cross. This act is part of the broader ceasefire accord, which has already seen the release of all living hostages by Hamas in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a commitment from Israel to hand over the remains of 360 Palestinian fighters killed in the war. A significant obstacle remains, as Hamas states it needs more time to locate and retrieve the remaining hostage bodies, a process it says is complicated by the widespread destruction across Gaza. This issue has been a major difficulty in U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war permanently.
For the civilians in Gaza, the renewed strikes have ignited deep-seated fears of a return to full-scale war. "We're scared that another war will break out because we don't want a war. We've suffered two years of displacement. We don't know where to go or where to come," said Fathi Al-Najjar, a displaced man in Khan Younis. His words reflect the plight of most of Gaza's over two million residents who have been displaced, some multiple times, and now live in a landscape of devastation, fearful of being uprooted again. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with the UN noting that despite aid efforts, water, food, and essential services are still desperately needed as families return to shattered neighborhoods filled with unstable buildings and unexploded ordnance.
The needs in Gaza are overwhelming. The UN and its partners are accelerating aid delivery, distributing over one million hot meals daily and supporting bakeries to produce tens of thousands of bundles of bread. Despite these efforts, an estimated 90% of the population remains displaced, with at least 1.5 million people urgently requiring emergency shelter assistance. The UN migration agency IOM has dispatched thousands of relief items, including tents, but warns that "shelter isn't a luxury; it allows families to rest, to stay warm, and to begin rebuilding their lives". Aid delivery continues to be hampered by customs delays, insecurity, and limited crossing points, with the UN urging Israel to open additional routes to meet the immense and growing needs.