State of the World from NPR A Month into the Ceasefire in Gaza, What’s Next?
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Nov 12, 2025 
Aya Batrawi, an NPR Middle East correspondent based in Dubai, shares her on-the-ground insights about the current ceasefire in Gaza. She discusses the complexities of hostage returns and missing remains, shedding light on challenges affecting the truce's advancement. Aya provides context on the reduced casualties, revealing who has been impacted and why. The atmosphere in Gaza is tense yet hopeful, with aid shortages complicating daily life. She also outlines essential steps needed for the next phase, including disarmament and reconstruction efforts.
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Hostage Remains Stall Progress
- The living Israeli hostages were released early in the ceasefire while the return of all remains remains unresolved.
- Hamas returned 24 remains but four bodies are still missing and may be under rubble or unknown locations.
Violence Persists Despite Ceasefire
- Casualties during the truce are far lower than during the war but still significant and include civilians.
- Some Palestinians died checking homes while others died in Israeli strikes responding to attacks on soldiers.
Pause Not Reconstruction In Gaza
- Gaza residents describe the period as a pause, not recovery, because essential aid and services remain insufficient.
- UN agencies report persistent food and medicine shortages despite hundreds of aid trucks entering daily.