Gaza Ceasefire Stalls as Rafah Crossing Remains Closed, Captive Remains Exchanged
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Israel and Hamas have continued a delicate exchange of remains, but the fragile Gaza ceasefire is increasingly threatened by disputes over humanitarian access, specifically the reopening of the vital Rafah border crossing with egypt. The ongoing closure is prompting accusations from Hamas that Israel is failing to uphold the terms of the agreement.
The bodies of two more Israeli captives – Aryeh Zalmanovich, 85, and army Master Sergeant Tamir Adar, 38 – were returned to Israel late Tuesday and identified early Wednesday. The International Committee of the red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover, overseeing the transfer from Gaza.
Hamas concerns and Initial Captive Release
Though Hamas cites widespread devastation within Gaza and continued Israeli military control over certain areas as hindering recovery efforts. The group also released 20 living captives at the outset of the ceasefire.
Reciprocal Return of Remains and Prisoner Release
In a reciprocal move on Tuesday, the bodies of 15 Palestinians killed while in Israeli detention were returned to Gaza, arriving at the nasser Medical Complex for identification. This exchange is part of a broader agreement under which Israel has released roughly 2,000 living Palestinian detainees and committed to releasing the remains of 360 deceased Palestinians.
Though,concerns are mounting regarding the conditions surrounding the return of Palestinian remains. A forensics team examining the bodies of 45 Palestinians returned last week reported that some arrived still shackled and exhibiting signs of physical abuse and potential execution.
palestinians as “Hostages” and Concerns over Israeli Detention
The situation has prompted calls to reframe the narrative surrounding Palestinian prisoners. Ubai Al-Aboudi, executive director of the Bisan Center for Research and Advancement, argued that Palestinians imprisoned by Israel should be considered “hostages,” stating, “This entire system dehumanises palestinians.” Al-Aboudi highlighted that approximately 20% of the Palestinian population has been arrested or detained by Israel over the decades, with conditions in Israeli prisons deteriorating significantly since the start of the war in Gaza last October. He further noted that many are held without due process, based solely on military orders.
Rafah Crossing Closure Jeopardizes Ceasefire
The primary point of contention remains the Rafah crossing,which has been closed since May 7,2024,when Israeli forces seized it during thier invasion of Rafah,a city sheltering nearly one million people. A delegation of Hamas officials,engaged in talks with Turkish officials in Qatar on Tuesday,affirmed the group’s commitment to the ceasefire despite what they describe as Israel’s “repeated violations.”
According to a statement released by the Hamas delegation, Israel is deliberately delaying the ceasefire’s implementation by refusing to open the Rafah crossing for the passage of sick and injured individuals and by blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Mujahid Muhammad Darwish, head of the delegation, reiterated “the inalienable rights of our people to self-determination and their right to an autonomous state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
The closure of the Rafah crossing has drawn international condemnation. Turkiye, a signatory to the Gaza ceasefire agreement brokered earlier this month in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, has echoed calls for its reopening. The United Nations has characterized the crossing, alongside the Karem Abu salem crossing, as one of two “arteries” for vital humanitarian access to the besieged territory.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an order on May 24, 2024, following a submission from South Africa, demanding Israel reopen the Rafah crossing. Despite this ruling, the crossing remains sealed, with only limited access available through Karem Abu Salem. Residents of Rafah were briefly able to return to the city following the start of a temporary ceasefire on January 19,2025,and the crossing was temporarily reopened for medical evacuations in February,but new evacuation orders were issued by Israel at the end of march. Humanitarian aid access through the crossing has been blocked as May 2024.
The continued closure of the Rafah crossing casts a long shadow over the future of the ceasefire and the delivery of desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza.
