What is the situation with the Rafah crossing?
The Rafah crossing has largely been shut since May 2024. The ceasefire deal also includes the ramping up of aid to Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people were determined in August to be affected by famine, according to the IPC global hunger monitor.
The crossing has in previous ceasefires functioned as a key conduit for humanitarian aid to flow into the enclave.
Although the flow of aid through another crossing had, until Sunday’s decision to halt aid, increased significantly since the ceasefire began, the United Nations says far more is needed.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 20:29
Gaza death toll rises to 44
Palestinian health officials have told The Independent that the death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 44.
The majority of deaths were reported at the Al-Awda Hospital.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:57
Breaking News
The Israeli military said it had begun resuming enforcement of the Gaza ceasefire after it was “violated” by Hamas.
It signals an end to strikes on the enclave that it said were carried out in response to earlier attacks on its forces on Sunday.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:50
Pictured: Israeli air strikes on southern Gaza
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:48
Where did the Israeli strikes hit?
Shortly before sunset, Israel’s military said it had begun a series of air strikes in southern Gaza against what it called Hamas targets.
It also said its forces struck “terrorists” approaching troops in Beit Lahiya in the north.
An Israeli air strike on a makeshift coffee house in Zawaida town in central Gaza killed at least six Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Another strike killed at least two people near the Al-Ahly football club in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The strike hit a tent and wounded eight others, said Al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties.
The hospital said it also received the bodies of four people killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat, along with the body of one person killed in a strike at a charging point west of Nuseirat.
Another strike hit a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis in the south, killing at least four people, including a woman and two children, according to Nasser Hospital.
The strike in Beit Lahiya killed two men, according to Shifa hospital.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:43
Dispute over bodies putting strain on ceasefire
The new ceasefire took effect on October 10, halting two years of war, but the Israeli government and Hamas have been accusing each other of violations of the ceasefire for days.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the “yellow line” to where Israeli forces had pulled back under the ceasefire agreement would be physically marked and that any violation of the ceasefire or attempt to cross the line would be met with fire.
Hamas detailed what it said was a series of violations by Israel that it says have left 46 people dead and stopped essential supplies from reaching the enclave.
On Saturday, Israel said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which had been expected to be reopened this week, would remain closed and that its reopening would depend on Hamas fulfilling its obligations under the ceasefire.
Israel says Hamas is being too slow in handing over bodies of deceased hostages. Hamas last week released all 20 living hostages it had been holding and in the following days has handed over 12 of the 28 deceased captives.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:39
Israel suspends aid and launches fresh wave of attacks on Gaza
Israel has suspended the supply of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and launched a fresh wave of strikes after accusing Hamas of breaching a US-brokered ceasefire.
An Israeli official told Sky News that the transfer of aid would be halted “until further notice” following a “blatant violation of the agreement” by Hamas.
It came after residents in Gaza and local health authorities said that Israeli airstrikes and tank fire across the enclave had killed at least 11 people. An Israeli military official said that further strikes against Hamas targets may still be launched following at least three attacks on troops on Sunday.
Joe Middleton19 October 2025 19:38