Israeli authorities have confirmed the receipt of two bodies from Hamas, which are claimed to be deceased hostages. This transfer occurred under the auspices of the Red Cross and is part of a broader ceasefire agreement that has faced scrutiny due to delays in recovering all hostages. Prior to this, ten of the 28 deceased hostages had been returned to Israel, leading to public outrage over the slow progress. The Israeli Prime Minister's office has ordered the closure of the Rafah border crossing until all hostages' remains are returned. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with reports of extensive destruction and loss of life. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 68,000 reported deaths in Gaza since the escalation began on October 7, 2023.