Israeli media primarily focused on the return of deceased hostages from Gaza throughout October 18th. The day began with the arrival and identification of Eliyahu Margalit's body, murdered in Nir Oz on October 7th, marking a continuation of previous days' efforts to retrieve fallen captives. As the day progressed, the focus shifted to Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to keep the Rafah crossing closed, directly linking its opening to Hamas fulfilling its commitments regarding deceased hostages. In the evening, Hamas announced it would return two more deceased hostages, with reports tracking the Red Cross's involvement and the subsequent transfer of the bodies to IDF forces and into Israel for identification. This ongoing narrative was underscored by continued protests from hostage families, demanding accountability and the return of all remaining captives.