Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office emphasized today that the southern border crossing of Rafah, which connects Gaza with Egypt, will only reopen after the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas hands over all the bodies of deceased hostages.
According to AFP, Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying, “Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed that Rafah Crossing be kept closed until further notice.”
Netanyahu’s office additionally stated that the reopening of Rafah Crossing will depend on whether Hamas fulfills its obligation to return the hostages and the bodies of the deceased, as well as adhering to the agreed ceasefire conditions.
Earlier today, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo announced that Rafah Crossing, located between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, would reopen on the 20th of this month to allow Palestinians residing in Egypt to return to Gaza.
Since May 7th last year, the Israeli military has controlled the Gaza side of Rafah Crossing, alleging that the facilities were being used for “terrorist purposes,” and strongly suspecting that the area was also being used for weapons smuggling.
Following Israel’s takeover of Rafah Crossing, including UN personnel, no individuals or goods were able to pass through this point.
Israel and Hamas had a ceasefire agreement starting from January 19th this year, during which Rafah Crossing briefly reopened.
On the other hand, the armed group Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a faction under Hamas, announced that they would be handing over the bodies of two hostages later today as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades revealed on their Telegram channel that they would be “transferring the bodies of two Israeli hostages found earlier today in the Gaza Strip at 10 p.m. tonight.”
Hamas has already released all 20 surviving hostages and returned the bodies of nine Israelis and one Nepali.
(Source: Central News Agency)