Israel Keeps Rafah Crossing Closed Amid Hostage Remains Tensions

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed “until further notice,” Israel announced on Saturday. This decision follows a statement from the Palestinian embassy in Egypt indicating that the crossing would reopen on Monday for individuals returning to Gaza. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized that the reopening hinges on how Hamas fulfills its obligations in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, specifically regarding the return of the remains of all 28 deceased hostages.

Israel’s foreign ministry had earlier suggested that the crossing might reopen on Sunday. So far, Hamas has returned the remains of ten hostages and announced the transfer of two more later on Saturday. The handover of remains is a critical aspect of the ceasefire agreement, which also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and discussions about the territory’s future. The Rafah crossing, the only entry point not controlled by Israel prior to the conflict, has been closed since May 2024 when Israel assumed control of the Gaza side.

Families in Gaza are experiencing heightened anxiety regarding the remains of their loved ones. Israel has been returning the bodies of Palestinians identified only by numbers, leading to emotional scenes as families search for their missing relatives. “Just like they took their captives, we want our captives. Bring me my son, bring all our kids back,” pleaded Iman Sakani, whose son has been missing during the conflict. She was among numerous families gathered at Nasser Hospital, anxiously awaiting news.

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel returned 15 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza on Saturday, bringing the total number returned to 135. Meanwhile, the toll of the war continues to rise, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting that newly recovered bodies have pushed the Palestinian death toll above 68,000. Thousands remain unaccounted for, according to the Red Cross. Although the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports, it maintains detailed casualty records that are generally regarded as reliable by United Nations agencies.

The conflict escalated following the attacks launched by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals in southern Israel. The remains of a tenth hostage returned by Hamas on Friday were identified as Eliyahu Margalit, a 76-year-old man taken from kibbutz Nir Oz during the initial attack. His remains were discovered in southern Gaza after excavations by bulldozers.

International pressure is mounting for the return of all hostages’ remains. U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he would support a resumption of hostilities if Hamas does not comply with the demands for the return of the deceased. Despite declaring its commitment to the ceasefire, Hamas has expressed that the retrieval of remains is complicated by the extensive destruction and the presence of unexploded ordnance in the region. The group has communicated to mediators that some remains may be located in areas under Israeli military control.

The forum supporting the families of the abducted hostages plans to continue holding weekly rallies until all remains are returned. “We will bring back all the deceased hostages!” declared Einav Zangauker, whose son was among the 20 living hostages released last week, during a rally in Tel Aviv.

In the midst of this crisis, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. Hamas has urged mediators to facilitate an increase in humanitarian aid for the territory’s 2 million residents. Despite ongoing closures and restrictions on aid organizations imposed by Israel, U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher reported that vast areas of Gaza resemble wastelands. Recent U.N. data indicated that only 339 trucks have been distributed within Gaza since the ceasefire commenced, far below the 600 trucks per day projected under the agreement.

While Israel has claimed to provide sufficient food aid, it has accused Hamas of diverting much of it, a claim that U.N. and other aid agencies dispute. In addition, Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, asserting that 38 Palestinians have been killed since the agreement began. Israel has not publicly responded to these allegations, and military operations continue in areas it still controls.

On Friday, Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that nine individuals, including women and children, were killed when their vehicle was struck by Israeli fire in Gaza City. The Israeli army stated that the vehicle crossed into an area under its control and posed an imminent threat, leading to the use of warning shots before fire was directed at the vehicle.

The ongoing conflict remains a source of profound tragedy and turmoil for families on both sides, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution that addresses the humanitarian crisis and the fate of hostages.