Israel, Palestinians Clash Over Rafah Border Reopening Plans/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Palestinian officials say Gaza’s Rafah crossing will reopen Monday for returning residents, but Israel disputes the claim, tying the reopening to the return of hostage remains. The disagreement casts uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid remains limited, and Gaza’s death toll surpasses 68,000.
Rafah Crossing Dispute Escalates: Quick Looks
- Palestinians claim Rafah crossing to reopen Monday; Israel denies it.
- Israel says reopening hinges on Hamas returning all hostage remains.
- Ceasefire still in place, but both sides accuse each other of violations.
- Gaza death toll passes 68,000; over 400 died from malnutrition.
- Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians; Hamas returns more hostage remains.
- Rafah has been closed since Israel took control in May 2024.
- Ceasefire deal includes hostage remains, aid deliveries, and reconstruction.
- Humanitarian aid still well below agreed levels, U.N. says.
- U.S. threatens backing Israeli military action if Hamas stalls further.
- Future of Rafah crossing’s operation remains unclear post-conflict.
Israel, Palestinians Disagree Over Rafah Crossing Reopening: Deep Look
CAIRO — Confusion and political tensions are mounting over the potential reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a vital lifeline for the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.
On Saturday, the Palestinian embassy in Egypt announced that the crossing would reopen Monday—but only for people returning to Gaza, not for those trying to exit. The news sparked hope for some relief in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Within minutes, however, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a firm rebuttal, saying the Rafah crossing will remain closed “until further notice.” Israel said reopening depends on Hamas fulfilling a central ceasefire condition: returning the remains of all Israeli hostages.
Earlier in the week, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had suggested the crossing could open as early as Sunday. The mixed messaging reflects the fragile and shifting nature of the current ceasefire, now more than a week old.
The Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt and previously operated independently of Israel, has remained closed since May 2024 after Israeli forces seized control of the Gaza side. Reopening it fully is considered critical for allowing Gazans to access medical care, leave for safety, or reunite with family in Egypt.
Control and Uncertainty
The future of the crossing remains in question. It’s unclear who will administer the heavily damaged Rafah terminal once the conflict ends — a point of contention likely to dominate post-war negotiations. Egypt, Hamas, Israel, and international actors all have stakes in the outcome.
Meanwhile, Gaza remains devastated. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 68,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict. The tally, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, is widely accepted by U.N. agencies as broadly reliable, though Israel disputes the figures and has yet to provide its own full count.
Thousands remain missing under the rubble, and recovery operations continue even as hostilities pause.
Hostage Remains and Ceasefire Conditions
The Rafah disagreement comes as the ceasefire’s key points — hostage remains, humanitarian aid, and rebuilding Gaza — face delays and mistrust.
On Saturday, Israel confirmed that Eliyahu Margalit, 76, was among 28 hostages’ remains handed over by Hamas so far. Margalit was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and triggered the war.
Israel has warned that unless all remains are returned, it reserves the right to resume military action. President Donald Trump has echoed this stance, signaling support for renewed operations if Hamas fails to meet obligations.
Hamas maintains that it is committed to the ceasefire, but claims that continued Israeli military presence and unexploded ordnance are hindering recovery efforts. The group says some remains are buried in areas currently held by Israeli forces.
In turn, Israel on Saturday returned 15 bodies of Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number of returned remains to 135, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Ceasefire Tensions and Accusations
Hamas accuses Israel of repeated ceasefire violations, saying 38 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began. One such incident occurred Friday when Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that a vehicle carrying civilians, including women and children, was struck by Israeli fire in Gaza City.
The Civil Defense claimed the car was entering an Israeli-controlled area and that no warning was given. Israel, however, said its forces saw a “suspicious vehicle” approaching and fired warning shots before taking action. The military cited an “imminent threat” as justification.
The United Nations helped coordinate recovery of the bodies from the scene Saturday.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel retains control of approximately half of Gaza, complicating both humanitarian operations and any future peace arrangements.
Aid Bottlenecks and Famine Threat
Humanitarian aid continues to flow at levels far below what was promised under the ceasefire agreement. While COGAT, Israel’s defense agency overseeing aid to Gaza, reported 950 aid trucks on Thursday and 716 on Wednesday, the U.N. says only 339 trucks have been successfully offloaded and distributed inside Gaza.
The agreement called for 600 trucks per day, making current numbers a fraction of what’s needed.
Throughout the war, Israel has restricted or halted aid deliveries, blaming Hamas for seizing supplies. The U.N. and aid agencies strongly deny this, citing systematic delays and permit restrictions by Israeli authorities.
International food experts have declared famine in Gaza City, with the U.N. confirming over 400 deaths from malnutrition-related causes — including 100 children.
What Lies Ahead
The dispute over Rafah is emblematic of larger post-war challenges. Control of border crossings, management of aid, and the return of hostages — living or dead — are central to any durable solution.
For now, both sides remain locked in mutual suspicion, and while guns may have fallen silent, the battle for political and humanitarian control continues.
Whether Rafah opens Monday or not, the struggle over Gaza’s future — and its people’s survival — remains unresolved.
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