Israel Prepares to Reopen Rafah Crossing for Individuals Only
Israel announced on Thursday that it is preparing to reopen the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt, allowing the passage of individuals only — not humanitarian aid.
According to a statement from the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel will continue blocking aid from entering through Rafah Crossing, while humanitarian supplies will keep flowing via other border points. The office linked the partial closure to what it described as “Hamas’s delay in returning the remains of Israeli hostages,” calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Humanitarian Concerns and UN Calls
The United Nations and several aid agencies have repeatedly urged Israel to reopen Rafah Crossing to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The UN declared famine in several areas of the enclave in late August, following two years of conflict that devastated infrastructure and displaced thousands of families.
Under the ceasefire deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, Hamas was expected to hand over all Israeli hostages — both alive and deceased — within 72 hours of the truce taking effect. While all living hostages have been released, Israel claims not all bodies have been recovered.
Political Reactions and Disputes
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his cabinet to decide whether Israel will remain committed to the deal or withdraw from it, amid accusations that Hamas failed to fulfill its obligations.
Hamas, on the other hand, stated that it needs specialized equipment to retrieve the remaining bodies buried under rubble, emphasizing that it “continues its efforts to close this file.”
Regional Mediation and Turkish Involvement
Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are leading mediation efforts to prevent the collapse of the truce. Turkish officials confirmed on Thursday that Ankara will join the mission to locate the remains of hostages trapped beneath Gaza’s destroyed buildings.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a team from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) — comprising 81 rescue specialists — has been deployed to Gaza in coordination with the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The team is tasked with assisting in the search for bodies under challenging conditions.
AFAD, known for its expertise in disaster response, previously led rescue operations after the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which killed over 53,000 people. The agency has also participated in humanitarian missions in more than 50 countries, including Somalia, Palestine, Ecuador, the Philippines, Nepal, Yemen, Mozambique, and Chad.
Warnings of Escalation
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday that “the battle in Gaza is not over,” vowing that Israel “will achieve all its objectives.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also warned that the military is ready to resume operations if Hamas “fails to comply fully with the ceasefire terms,” confirming that he has instructed the army to prepare a “plan to crush” the group if fighting resumes.
