DaysofPal- The Hamas Movement said on Saturday that the Israeli continued closure of the Rafah crossing, in violation of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, will delay the handover of the remains of Israeli captives killed in Gaza.
In a statement, Hamas said that the Israeli refusal to reopen Rafah obstructs the implementation of agreed-upon humanitarian arrangements, including the exchange of bodies. The movement noted that the Israeli occupation is deliberately hindering the process and warned that the closure could undermine the fragile truce in place.
Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered Rafah to remain closed “until further notice.”
The statement added that any reopening would depend on “how Hamas fulfils its part in the return of the deceased hostages and in implementing the agreed framework.”
Hamas had announced plans to hand over the remains of two Israeli captives at 10 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was reportedly en route to a location in southern Gaza to receive several coffins in coordination with both parties.
The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to Egypt, has remained closed since the Israeli occupation forces took off the Palestinian side in May.
Its closure has worsened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, cutting off vital aid and preventing the evacuation of wounded civilians.
There has been no official confirmation from Hamas or the ICRC on whether the handover will proceed as planned, amid reports of ongoing discussions to find an alternative arrangement.
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