By MELANIE LIDMAN and SAMY MAGDY, Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of a hostage who was held in Gaza, adding to tensions over the fragile truce in the two-year war.

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the ceasefire, following an earlier four on Monday — hours after the last 20 living hostages were released. In all, Israel has been awaiting the return of the bodies of 28 deceased hostages.

Israel, which released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday, is also handing over bodies of Palestinians under the deal, a step awaited by many families in Gaza whose relatives went missing during the war.

The military said that after the “examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages.” There was no immediate word on whose body it was.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded earlier Wednesday that Hamas fulfill the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal — introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump — about the return of the hostages’ bodies.

“We will not compromise on this and will not stop our efforts until we return the last deceased hostage, until the last one,” Netanyahu said.

Jewish revelers dance and hold up the Torah as they celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah next to the plaza known as hostages square, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Returning all living and dead hostages

The U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan had called for all hostages — living and dead — to be handed over by a deadline that expired on Monday. But under the deal, if that didn’t happen, Hamas was to share information about deceased hostages and try to hand over all as soon as possible.

This is not the first time Hamas has returned a wrong body to Israel. Earlier this year during a previous ceasefire, the group said it handed over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons. Israelis endured another moment of agony when testing showed that one of the bodies returned was identified as a Palestinian woman.

Bibas’ body was returned a day later and positively identified.

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Hamas and the Red Cross have said that recovering the remains of dead hostages was a challenge because of Gaza’s vast destruction, and Hamas has told mediators of the truce that some are in areas controlled by Israeli troops.

Hazem Kassem, a spokesperson for Hamas, said on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday that the group was working to return the bodies of the hostages as agreed in the ceasefire deal. He accused Israel of violating the deal with shootings Tuesday in eastern Gaza City and the territory’s southern city of Rafah.

Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said Wednesday the military is operating along the deployment lines laid out in the deal and warned that anyone approaching the deployment line will be targeted — as had happened on Tuesday with several militants.

Two hostages whose bodies were released from Gaza were to be buried on Wednesday. The family invited the public to gather along the road in the afternoon to accompany the body of one hostage from a forensics institute to a cemetery north of Tel Aviv.

Separately, forensic experts in Gaza on Wednesday started identifying 45 bodies of Palestinians that Israel handed over through the Red Cross the previous day without identification. Israel is expected to transfer more bodies, though the total number has not been announced.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the bodies were those of people who died in Israeli prisons or bodies taken from Gaza by Israeli troops. During the war, the Israeli military has exhumed bodies as part of its search for the remains of hostages.

Desperately needed aid to Gaza

The entrance of humanitarian aid to Gaza was paused for the past two days due to the prisoner and hostage exchange on Monday and a Jewish holiday Tuesday.

The Egyptian Red Crescent said 400 trucks carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies were bound for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, while Israel and Hamas argue over the slow return of the bodies of deceased hostages.

The Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza, COGAT, notified humanitarian organizations on Tuesday that it would allow into Gaza only half of the 600 daily aid trucks called for under the deal.

It was not immediately clear whether it was following through on the threat. COGAT declined to comment on the number of trucks expected to enter Gaza on Wednesday.

On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages in Gaza and Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first phase.

Families of hostages and their supporters have expressed dismay these past days that so few of the dead hostages were being released. Hamas and the Red Cross have said that recovering the remains of dead hostages was a challenge because of Gaza’s vast destruction, and Hamas told mediators of the truce that some are in areas controlled by Israeli troops.

The first four bodies released were all identified as hostages and of the second group of four bodies, three were identified — Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi and Eitan Levi.

Baruch was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

Nimrodi, who had been serving with the Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza, was taken by militants from the Erez border crossing. The Hostages Family Forum, a group representing many of the hostages’ families, says Levi was kidnapped while driving a friend to Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas attack.

Magdy reported from Cairo.

It’s been said that a good man is hard to find. In the seventh week of this fantasy football season, a good quarterback is even rarer.

Two of the preseason favorites for NFL Most Valuable Player, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, are on bye this week. Jackson was already injured, and Allen is hurting after his Bills dropped two in a row.

Most of the better replacement QBs are likely already gone in your league (Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart, Sam Darnold). So, too, are some really poor options (Justin Fields, Cam Ward, Geno Smith).

So we’ve got a short list of QB options for this week that are, if nothing else, going to top Fields’ historically and comically bad performance last Sunday in London:

Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons) — The sophomore, who looked great Monday night in Atlanta’s classic uniform,  is coming off his best two games of the season. This week he faces a reeling San Francisco defense now missing its best player, all-world linebacker Fred Warner.

Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons makes a pass in the second quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) — No. 12 has apparently been inoculated against serious competition in the AFC North, and this week he opposes the fading Bengals. He’s averaging two TD passes per game and should at least match that Thursday night in Cincinnati.

Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers signals against the Cleveland Browns during the first half in the game at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

C.J. Stroud (Texans) — While he still has a patchwork offensive line and a tough foe (Seattle) this week, Stroud is coming off a season-best performance against the Ravens: 23 of 27 for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans rushes with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL 2025 game between Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Bryce Young (Panthers) — The once-too-small Heisman Trophy winner has feasted on bad Miami and Dallas defenses the past two weeks (with five TD passes), and now he gets to play the Jets, the new Worst Team on the Planet outside of Penn State.

Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the game at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

The Chiefs’ defense is rounding into form and will mostly put clamps on Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty. … Tennessee RB Tony Pollard will do little against New England, especially now that Tajae Spears is back to take some of his workload. … The Vikings’ defense will disrupt Eagles’ inconsistent passing game, so that will limit receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. … Seattle will devote massive coverage to stopping Houston star wideout Nico Collins. … Giants QB Jaxson Dart will do better against Denver than Jets’ Fields did last week, but not by much. … And embattled Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa could get battered by Cleveland’s Myles Garrett.

Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders caries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter in the game at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Matchup game

Who’s the NFL’s top running back over the past two weeks? Why it’s Carolina’s Rico Dowdle, who will have another big day against the Jets with teammate Chuba Hubbard still iffy  … Kimani Vidal is now No. 1 with the Chargers and should hit paydirt against the Colts. … Same goes for his teammate, WR Ladd McConkey. … Dallas’ George Pickens will stay hot against Washington. … As will Cincy WR Tee Higgins, becoming a favorite of Joe Flacco, against Pittsburgh. … And this week’s top quarterbacks will be, in no particular order, the Patriots’ Drake Maye vs. Tennessee, Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield vs. Detroit and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, looking to rebound against Dallas’ defensive mediocrities.

Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball for yardage during the NFL 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Injury watch

The league’s receiving corps took a big hit last week with injuries to the Rams’ Puka Nacua, Bucs’ Emeka Egbuka, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Niners’ Jauan Jennings, Jets’ Garrett Wilson, Titans’ Calvin Ridley and Cleveland tight end David Njoku. … Tampa Bay has again already ruled out RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin. … Also likely out: Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. … The long list of questionables includes six receivers (Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Chargers’ Quentin Johnston, Tampa’s Mike Evans, Washington’s Terry McLaurin, Chicago’s D.J. Moore, Atlanta’s Darnell Mooney) and three quarterbacks (Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Niners’ Brock Purdy and Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy).

Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after suffering an injury during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in the game at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Deepest sleeper

His friends and Arizona teammates call him Bam. We’ll refer to the Cardinals’ running back with a very light resume by his given name of Zonovan Knight. The third-year pro out of North Carolina State has emerged as the Cards’ No. 1 back thanks to a slew of injuries. He eclipsed teammate Michael Carter last week in Indianapolis, rushing 11 times for 34 yards and scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive week. He’ll have fantasy value at least until Trey Benson returns from the injured list in November.

Bam Knight #20 of the Arizona Cardinals runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Thursday pick

Steelers at Bengals (+5½)

Pick: Steelers by 3

Joe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on Oct. 12, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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Today is Wednesday, Oct. 15, the 288th day of 2025. There are 77 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 15, 2003, 11 people were killed and 70 were injured when a Staten Island ferry slammed into a maintenance pier. (The ferry’s pilot, who had blacked out at the controls, later pleaded guilty to 11 counts of manslaughter.)

Also on this date:

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte, the deposed French emperor, arrived on the British-ruled South Atlantic island of St. Helena, where he spent the last 5 1/2 years of his life in exile.

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In 1945, the former premier of Vichy France, Pierre Laval, was executed for treason.

In 1946, Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering (GEH’-reeng) fatally poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed.

In 1954, Hurricane Hazel made landfall on the Carolina coast as a Category 4 storm; Hazel was blamed for about 1,000 deaths in the Caribbean, 95 in the U.S. and 81 in Canada.

In 1976, the first debate of its kind took place between vice-presidential nominees. Democrat Walter F. Mondale and Republican Bob Dole faced off in Houston.

In 1991, despite sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill, the Senate narrowly confirmed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, 52-48.

In 1997, British Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green twice drove a jet-powered car in the Nevada desert faster than the speed of sound, officially shattering the world’s land-speed record.

In 2017, actor and activist Alyssa Milano tweeted that women who had been sexually harassed or assaulted should write “Me too” as a status. Within hours, tens of thousands had taken up the #MeToo hashtag (using a phrase that had been introduced a decade earlier by social activist Tarana Burke).

Today’s Birthdays:

Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Palmer is 80.
Musician Richard Carpenter is 79.
Film director Mira Nair is 68.
Britain’s Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, is 66.
Chef Emeril Lagasse (EM’-ur-ul leh-GAH’-see) is 66.
Actor Dominic West is 56.
R&B singer Ginuwine (JIHN’-yoo-wyn) is 55.
Singer-TV personality Keyshia Cole is 44.
Actor Bailee Madison is 26.

DALLAS – A determined offensive push by the Minnesota Wild came too late, in this case.

Trailing the Stars by a trio of goals, Minnesota threw everything at its disposal toward the Dallas net in the final period, but despite the work of its NHL-best power play, came up just short.

Third period man-advantage goals by Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy made it a nail-biter, but the Stars were able to hold on for a 5-2 win Tuesday night in north Texas.

Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger carried much of the load, stopping 38 shots as the Wild fell to 2-2-0 for the season, starting a long road trip on a down note. For Minnesota, goalie Filip Gustavsson had 20 saves in the loss.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, Minnesota pulled back within a goal, and outshot Dallas 16-4 in the final 20 minutes, only to see Radek Faksa and Roope Hintz score empty-net goals to squelch the drama.

While the power play for Minnesota has been a bright spot, the Wild have now gone three games without a 5-on-5 goal.

In the early going, the Wild looked nothing like a team that had played the night before and had gotten into their Texas hotel beds at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. They pelted Oettinger with eight shots in the opening three minutes of the game, but the momentum was short-lived.

Dallas struck first just over five minutes into the game when an errant Vladimir Tarasenko pass was intercepted by Hintz, who fed defenseman Esa Lindell for a low shot through traffic that eluded Gustavsson.

When Minnesota took the first penalty of the game late in the first, Dallas needed 31 seconds of man advantage to double its lead. After Wild defenseman Jake Middleton lost his stick while guarding the front of the net, Stars forward Wyatt Johnston was able to walk around him and pop a shot into the top right corner of the net.

Despite being outshot 14-11 by its guests, Dallas took its two-goal lead into the first break.

Early in the middle frame, Minnesota killed all but seven seconds of the Stars’ second power play, but ended up in the three-goal hole thanks to an unfortunate bounce. With Zach Bogosian manning the top of the crease, Dallas forward Matt Duchene was able to bank a puck off the Wild defenseman’s skate and between Gustavsson’s knees.

Minnesota’s power play, which entered the game leading the NHL in efficiency, got its first opportunity of the night in the second period, and crowded Oettinger’s crease. But they came away empty after the goalie smothered a Kaprizov wrist shot from 12 feet out.

The Wild began the third period with 51 seconds of man advantage and spent all of that time in the offensive zone, with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.

The handful of Minnesota fans at American Airlines Center finally had a reason to cheer when Middleton leveled Duchene with an open-ice hit in the neutral zone, then got in a scrap that ended with the Wild on a power play. They spoiled Oettinger’s attempt at a clean sheet when Zeev Buium’s shot from the blue line sailed through a crowd and was deflected by Boldy on the way to the back of the net.

Boldy, who has scored in every Wild game, became the first player in franchise history to open a season with a four-game goal streak.

Tuesday night’s game marked the Stars’ 32nd home opener since they moved to Texas in 1993. The franchise spent its first 26 seasons in the Twin Cities, playing home games in Bloomington as the Minnesota North Stars.

The Wild, who are in the midst of a five-game road trip – their second-longest of the season – have two days off before a 6 p.m. game on Thursday versus the Capitals in Washington.