The Palestinian Embassy in Egypt announced on Saturday that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen on Monday for individuals returning to Gaza. However, the crossing will remain shut for those attempting to leave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office quickly responded, stating that the Rafah crossing will not resume operations until further notice, pending Hamas’ compliance in returning all deceased hostages. Earlier, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had indicated that the crossing might reopen on Sunday as part of the ongoing ceasefire efforts.
The Rafah crossing, not under Israeli control before the conflict, has been inactive since May 2024 when Israel seized the Gaza side. Its full reopening would facilitate Gazans in accessing medical care, traveling, and visiting relatives in Egypt. The operational responsibility for the Gaza side of the crossing post-war remains uncertain.
Hamas condemned Netanyahu’s decision as a breach of the ceasefire terms and commitments made to mediators. They emphasized that the continued closure of Rafah would hinder the entry of necessary equipment for locating additional hostage bodies, further delaying recovery efforts. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 68,000 Palestinian casualties, with many still missing, as the recovery operation continues.
The U.S. State Department warned of credible intelligence indicating an imminent attack by Hamas against Gaza residents, stressing the need for Hamas to uphold the ceasefire agreement. Israel received two deceased hostages’ remains from Hamas, marking progress in the ceasefire terms. However, Israel urged a faster turnover of the remaining bodies, citing obstacles in the process.
Hamas accused Israel of ceasefire violations, while Gaza’s Civil Defence reported casualties from Israeli attacks. The aid flow into Gaza remains a point of contention, with Hamas calling for increased humanitarian assistance, Rafah border crossing access, and reconstruction efforts. Challenges persist in delivering aid to Gaza, with past restrictions exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition concerns, disputed by Israel.