Israel will keep the Rafah border crossing closed until Hamas returns the bodies of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, citing security and political reasons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the Rafah border crossing will remain closed “until further notice,” linking its reopening to the return of hostage bodies by Hamas.
According to Al Arabiya, the decision came after the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced earlier that the crossing would reopen on Monday to allow Palestinians in Egypt to return to Gaza.
Israeli control and restrictions over Rafah were introduced under a ceasefire agreement brokered in Sharm el-Sheikh, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, with U.S. oversight.
The first phase of the prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel began on October 9, as part of the broader ceasefire arrangement aimed at de-escalating the Gaza conflict.
The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo has urged its citizens wishing to return to Gaza to register their information electronically and prepare to move toward the crossing.
Netanyahu’s announcement underscores the fragile nature of the truce, with Israel maintaining tight control over key crossings and movement in and out of the Gaza Strip.
Analysts say the closure of Rafah highlights the political leverage Israel seeks to maintain in negotiations, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen amid delays in aid and civilian returns.
