The fragile ceasefire in Gaza faced immediate and severe tests, as Israel announced a halving of aid flow into the Palestinian territory and postponed the opening of the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Israel attributed these actions to what it called delays by Hamas in returning the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages. Hamas, however, stated it faced obstacles in identifying all burial sites, a challenge acknowledged by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is overseeing the transfer of remains and noted the difficulty of finding bodies amid Gaza’s extensive rubble.

The US-brokered ceasefire agreement stipulated the return of all hostages, alive and deceased, within 72 hours of its acceptance. While 20 living Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on Monday and nearly 2,000 Palestinians freed from Israeli custody, the return of deceased remains became a contentious point. As of Tuesday night, Hamas had transferred the remains of eight hostages, with 20 still unaccounted for, prompting severe criticism from Israel and accusations of deliberate delays by the militant group.

International political figures have weighed in, urging adherence to the agreement. Former US President Donald Trump, who brokered the deal, pressed Hamas to release the remaining bodies, emphasizing its necessity for 'Phase Two' of the Gaza plan. Similarly, UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged Hamas to 'honour the terms of the ceasefire' by returning the deceased hostages, paying tribute to the families who have endured 'terrible and protracted pain'. Starmer also defended the UK's diplomatic approach, including the recognition of a Palestinian state, as crucial for enabling peace efforts, while acknowledging the ceasefire deal as Trump's initiative.

Amidst these tensions, sporadic violence continued in Gaza. Israeli forces, having pulled back to a 'yellow line' but still occupying over half of Gaza, reportedly opened fire on civilians approaching their positions in two separate incidents, resulting in six fatalities. Hamas spokespersons accused Israel of breaking ceasefire arrangements. Concurrently, Hamas sought to reimpose its authority, sending armed fighters into the streets, targeting those perceived as opposed to its rule, with reports of executions witnessed by onlookers in Gaza City.

Humanitarian officials expressed dismay over the aid restrictions, noting that only limited supplies had entered Gaza since the ceasefire, far from the surge anticipated. The UN reported minimal aid—tents, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour, and medicines—entered on Saturday, with no trucks on Monday due to hostage transfers, and Tuesday crossings shut for a Jewish holiday. Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network, described the situation as far from a 'flood of aid', particularly in the devastated north.

Looking ahead, the focus is on establishing a transitional authority and a multinational stabilization force, overseen by a 'board of peace' possibly chaired by Donald Trump and involving Tony Blair. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that 15 Palestinian technocrats, approved by all Palestinian factions including Hamas and vetted by Israel, have been selected to administer Gaza. The immense scale of destruction is also becoming clear, with the UN, EU, and World Bank jointly estimating Gaza's reconstruction cost at $70 billion, requiring $20 billion in the next three years and decades for full recovery.