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Israel, Hamas Trade Blame as Rafah Reopening Remains Undetermined

Israel, Hamas Trade Blame as Rafah Reopening Remains Undetermined/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel and Hamas continue to trade blame over alleged violations of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire, with disputes over hostage body returns threatening the deal. Israel says it’s preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing for civilians, but not for aid. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen amid critical shortages and delays in relief.

Palestinians receive donated food at a community kitchen in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians receive donated food at a community kitchen in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Gaza Ceasefire Quick Look

  • Rafah Crossing: Israel preparing to reopen Rafah for people, no aid or date confirmed.
  • Hostage Dispute: Israel demands return of 19 hostage bodies; Hamas says rubble impedes recovery.
  • Ceasefire Strains: Hamas alleges Israel killed 24 Palestinians since Friday, calls it a truce violation.
  • Military Actions: Israel says it shot armed threats; reported airstrike killed two in Khan Younis.
  • Trump Plan: 20-point U.S. ceasefire roadmap includes Hamas disarmament, long-term Gaza governance.
  • Aid Crisis: UN warns famine looms; 600 trucks allowed in, but thousands needed weekly.
  • UNICEF Support: 250 pallets of aid and baby food delivered; still insufficient, per Hamas officials.
  • PA Role: Palestinian Authority open to helping manage Gaza’s security and reconstruction.
Mourners attend the funeral of slain hostage Captain Daniel Peretz after his body was returned from Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas at Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Deep Look: Ceasefire Fragile as Israel and Hamas Clash Over Rafah Crossing and Hostage Returns

Cairo/Tel Aviv — Israel says it is preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt for the movement of people, but set no date as it traded sharp accusations with Hamas over violations of a U.S.‑mediated ceasefire. The resumption of the crossing hinges on unresolved disputes — especially over the return of hostage bodies and battlefield conduct — that threaten to derail the fragile truce.


Dispute Over Hostage Bodies Tests Truce

A central tension arises from the handover of deceased hostages. Israel claims Hamas still holds the bodies of 19 deceased captives, while Hamas counters that it has turned over all bodies it could access. The militant group says locating remains amid Gaza’s devastation requires heavy machinery and excavation equipment, currently barred under blockades.

Shosh Bedrosian, an Israeli government spokesperson, reiterated Israel’s demand that Hamas comply with the agreement by returning the bodies. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by killing at least 24 Palestinians in shootings since the truce took effect. The group delivered a list of alleged violations to mediators.

The health ministry in Gaza reported one Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis that killed two civilians. The Israeli military claimed the target had approached troops from a tunnel shaft, alleging imminent threat.


Rafah Crossing Reopening: Plans Underway, Aid Excluded for Now

Israel’s military coordinating agency, COGAT, stated coordination with Egypt is underway to reopen Rafah for people movement, but stressed that humanitarian aid will continue to flow through the Israeli‑controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, not via Rafah. This caveat is key, as the original ceasefire terms did not authorize Rafah for aid deliveries.

Italian public broadcaster Kan reported Israel’s foreign minister suggesting the crossing might open as early as Sunday — though no confirmation or time frame has been formally authorized.


Implications for Peace Plan and Reconstruction

The Rafah crossing holds strategic symbolic and practical importance. It is Gaza’s primary access point to Egypt and, historically, a linchpin for civilian movement and trade. Under Israel’s 2024 occupation, Rafah was seized and remained under Israeli control until January 2025, when it was returned under prior ceasefire arrangements.

The renewed reopening of the crossing is part of a larger 20‑point plan promoted by the U.S., which calls for Hamas’s disarmament and a shift in Gaza’s governance. But those proposals remain stalled, as Hamas refuses to relinquish political control. Israel’s insistence on total compliance means parts of the plan — like international stabilization efforts and statehood pathways — remain unresolved.


Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The urgency of reopening borders is magnified by the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The U.N. and aid agencies have warned of famine conditions, particularly in areas cut off from supplies. To stave off catastrophe, thousands of aid trucks per week must enter — far more than the few hundred currently approved under the truce.

UN relief coordinator Tom Fletcher described aid flows as a “good base” but far short of what’s needed. UNICEF disclosed shipments of tents, hygiene kits, and baby food, but warned these supplies would last only days in many communities.

Hamas media officials characterized the current aid inflows as a “drop in the ocean” relative to Gaza’s scale of need.


Future Risks: Violations, Collapse, and Deadlock

The ceasefire’s durability depends heavily on each side honoring terms. The body-handover standoff is a flashpoint that could unravel the agreement. If violations escalate — or either party perceives bad faith — the risk of renewed conflict looms.

Israel insists it will act if Hamas fails to comply, including by resuming military operations. Hamas, meanwhile, may feel pressure to solidify its control in Gaza’s urban vacuum zones, having already conducted public crackdowns to reassert authority.

A broader collapse of the truce would further jeopardize reconstruction plans, border reopening, and any diplomatic progress toward Gaza’s governance and peace.

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