Israel and Hamas Trade Accusations Amid Ceasefire and Rafah Crossing Preparations

Israel announced on Thursday that it was preparing to reopen Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow limited movement of Palestinians but did not confirm a reopening date. The move comes as tensions persist between Israel and Hamas over alleged ceasefire violations and the return of hostage bodies under a U.S.-brokered truce plan.

Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian stated that Israel remains committed to the ceasefire terms, urging Hamas to return the bodies of 19 deceased hostages still withheld. Hamas claims it has handed over all bodies it could recover, saying that further recovery efforts require heavy excavation equipment, which Israel has yet to approve for entry into Gaza.

Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by killing at least 24 Palestinians since Friday. The group submitted a list of alleged breaches to mediators, accusing Israel of undermining the agreement. The Israeli military responded that troops opened fire only when Palestinians approached ceasefire positions despite warnings.

The next phase of the U.S.-engineered 20-point peace plan, according to Israel, requires Hamas to disarm and relinquish power—demands the group continues to reject. Instead, Hamas has intensified its control in areas vacated by Israeli troops, leading to violent crackdowns and internal clashes.

In the latest developments, Israel released 30 Palestinian bodies on Thursday, adding to 120 received by Gaza authorities since Monday. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. The U.N. estimates thousands of aid trucks must enter weekly to address famine and health crises, though only 600 trucks have been cleared under the truce.

With nearly 68,000 Palestinians killed and most of Gaza in ruins, global attention turns to an upcoming Egypt-led reconstruction conference aimed at addressing Gaza’s governance and rebuilding efforts amid deep political divides.