Israel Prepares to Reopen Rafah Crossing Amid Ceasefire Violation Claims

Israel Prepares to Reopen Rafah Crossing Amid Tensions

Israel stated on Thursday that it is preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to allow passage of people, without setting a firm date. This announcement comes amid mutual accusations between Israel and Hamas of “violating the ceasefire agreement” brokered by the United States.

Hostage Remains Issue Threatens Truce

The issue of returning the remains of hostages held by Hamas has sparked controversy, potentially leading to the collapse of the ceasefire agreement. Additionally, unresolved issues such as the disarmament of militants and the future governance of Gaza remain outstanding.

Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters that Israel remains committed to fulfilling the agreement while demanding that Hamas return the remains of the 19 hostages that have not yet been handed over.

To date, Hamas has handed over 10 bodies, but Israel claims that one of them is not the body of a hostage.

Hamas, for its part, affirmed its commitment to the Gaza agreement and to returning all remaining hostage remains, but noted that it may take time, as some bodies are buried in tunnels destroyed by Israel, and others are under the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel.

Hamas's armed wing stated that Gaza has been reduced to ruins by the war and that handing over more bodies requires allowing heavy machinery and excavation equipment to enter the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Mutual Accusations of Ceasefire Violations

A senior Hamas official accused Israel on Thursday of violating the ceasefire agreement by opening fire, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people since last Friday, and indicated that a list of violations had been submitted to mediators.

“The occupation is working day and night to undermine the agreement through violations on the ground,” the official stated.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to the accusations of “ceasefire violations.” Israel had previously stated that some Palestinians ignored warnings “not to approach Israeli army positions in the ceasefire zone” and that the army “fired to eliminate the threat.”

The Gaza health ministry stated that an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza resulted in the death of two people, and the Israeli army responded that its forces fired at several people who “emerged from a tunnel opening and approached soldiers,” claiming that they posed an “immediate threat.”

The Palestinian health ministry said that at least 7 people were killed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Gaza residents reported seeing drones and warplanes flying over southern Gaza and hearing sporadic gunfire.

Disarmament Disputes and Trump's Plan for the Next Phase

Israel says the “20-point plan” formulated by the Trump administration has entered its next phase, demanding that Hamas disarm and hand over power, but Hamas has so far rejected this demand.

Instead, Hamas has launched a security crackdown in urban areas from which Israeli forces have withdrawn, through public executions and clashes with local armed clans to demonstrate its control.

Trump again issued a threat to Hamas, writing in a post: “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza (which is not consistent with the agreement), we will have no choice but to intervene and eliminate them.”

At an event in the Oval Office, when asked about his recent threats to Hamas, Trump told reporters: “If they behave well, that’s good. If they don’t, we’ll deal with it.”

He added that these operations would not involve US forces but would be carried out with US support.

On Monday, 20 surviving Israeli hostages were released, and in return, Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees.

The Gaza health ministry said on Thursday that Israel had handed over the bodies of 30 Palestinians killed during the conflict, bringing the total number of bodies received since Monday to 120.

The long-term content of the Trump plan has not been finalized, including the formation of an international “stabilization force” for this densely populated area and promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state (which Israel has rejected).

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and Need for More Aid

The Israeli military aid agency COGAT stated in a statement on Thursday that it is coordinating with Egypt to determine a date for the reopening of the Rafah crossing after the necessary preparations have been completed, to allow the passage of people.

COGAT pointed out that the Rafah crossing will not be used for the entry of relief materials - this was not stipulated in any of the stages of the ceasefire agreement, and all humanitarian materials destined for Gaza must pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing controlled by Israel and must undergo security checks.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher stated in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that some areas of Gaza are experiencing famine and that thousands of trucks loaded with aid need to enter Gaza weekly to alleviate the crisis.

Aid trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday, but medical resources remain scarce, and most of Gaza's 2.2 million residents are homeless. The director of the Hamas media office in Gaza, Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated that the aid that entered Gaza after the cessation of the conflict was “very meager.”

According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli bombing and airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of nearly 68,000 Palestinians, and a large part of this densely populated urban area has been reduced to ruins.