The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed indefinitely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday. He stated that the reopening depends on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages, as tensions rise over accusations of ceasefire violations from both sides.
The announcement followed a statement from the Palestinian embassy in Egypt that the Rafah crossing — Gaza’s main exit and entry point — would reopen for humanitarian movement. However, Netanyahu’s declaration halted those expectations, intensifying frustration and uncertainty for thousands stranded on both sides.
For days, Israel and Hamas have exchanged blame over breaches of the US-mediated ceasefire. Late yesterday, the US State Department said it had received “credible reports” suggesting that Hamas planned to violate the truce. The department warned that, if this happened, measures would be taken to “protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.”
Former President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire deal, also remarked that Israeli forces could resume operations if Hamas fails to honor its commitments.
Dispute Over Aid and Return of Bodies
Hamas condemned Netanyahu’s move as “a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement” and said that keeping the crossing closed would hinder the recovery of more hostage bodies from beneath Gaza’s rubble. Israel said it had received two more bodies late yesterday — bringing the total to 12 out of 28 — under the US-brokered deal.
The war has devastated Gaza, displacing nearly its entire population, overwhelming medical facilities, and leaving famine confirmed by international monitors. Humanitarian aid deliveries, central to Trump’s 20-point peace plan, remain restricted — worsening an already dire crisis.
The ceasefire deal saw Hamas release 20 living Israeli hostages held for two years, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Yet, the return of deceased hostages and the slow aid flow continue to strain the fragile truce.
Formidable Obstacles to Peace
Israel insists that Hamas has been slow to return the remaining bodies. Hamas counters that massive destruction has made locating them difficult. Under the agreement, Israel is also to return 360 bodies of Palestinian militants in exchange for deceased Israeli hostages — 15 have been exchanged so far.
Since May 2024, Rafah has mostly remained shut. While Israel has gradually increased humanitarian aid since July, the United Nations reports that supplies are still far below what is needed to prevent widespread starvation.
Trump’s peace framework still faces daunting hurdles: Hamas’s disarmament, Gaza’s governance, the composition of an international stabilization force, and the long-debated creation of a Palestinian state remain unresolved.
Behind every political statement and diplomatic exchange lie millions of lives — families separated, children orphaned, and communities desperate for safety. Amid the rubble and rhetoric, the world must remember: peace is not just about politics — it’s about people.
