Israel has announced it will keep the Rafah crossing closed and reduce humanitarian aid to Gaza. This decision comes despite a ceasefire agreement aimed at easing tensions in the region. Israeli officials say the measures will remain in place until Hamas returns all the remains of Israeli hostages.
According to Israeli media, security officials believe Hamas is not making serious efforts to locate and return the hostages’ bodies. So far, Hamas has handed over the remains of only four hostages. Israel claims Hamas has more information about other deceased hostages but is withholding it. On Monday, Hamas returned four bodies, and the Israeli army confirmed their identities today.
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The opening of Rafah crossing was supposed to be part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal. However, Israel says this condition depends on Hamas fully cooperating in returning the remains. Egyptian and Qatari teams are already in Gaza searching for bodies, while an Israeli technical team is advising on the process.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said handing over remains will take time. Many bodies are buried under collapsed buildings in Gaza, making recovery difficult. The process could be long and painful for both sides, especially given the scale of destruction.
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Meanwhile, Gaza health officials reported that 45 more Palestinian bodies have reached Nasser Hospital. They also claim Israel still holds the bodies of dozens of Palestinians killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. As aid remains restricted and crossings shut, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen.