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Israel cuts Gaza aid by half, as four captive bodies handed over

Israel cuts Gaza aid by half, as four captive bodies handed over
MENA
13 min read
Israel said it will cut the aid being sent to Gaza in half, as Hamas hands over four more captive bodies to Israel.

Israel will only allow half the agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza starting Wednesday, in a setback to hopes food and supplies would be quickly ramped up to ease famine in the enclave.

COGAT, the Israeli military arm that oversees aid flows into Gaza, also notified the UN that no fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure. 

COGAT blamed Hamas for a slow release of captives bodies for the decision to limit aid trucks to 300 daily. The Islamist militant group has said locating the bodies is difficult.

Four bodies, however, were handed over by Hamas and were brought into Israel from Gaza, as the identities of those transferred a day earlier were confirmed.

The remains were handed over to the Red Cross, then transferred to Israel, the latest step in implementing a ceasefire aimed at ending two years of war in the Gaza Strip.

Already on Monday, Hamas had transferred the remains of four hostages, just hours after releasing the last 20 living hostages under the ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Separately, a Gaza hospital said it had received the bodies of 45 Palestinians handed back by Israel, also as part of Trump's plan to end the war.