Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, as tensions mount over the return of deceased hostages and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The ceasefire, signed last week, raised hopes for a surge in aid, but most restrictions remain in place, throttling the supply of desperately needed assistance.
Israeli officials said on Thursday that the Rafah crossing with Egypt would remain shut to individuals until Sunday at least, and may not open to humanitarian convoys at all. Aid agencies say opening Rafah, controlled by Israel since May last year, is critical for bringing sufficient humanitarian assistance into the territory. The World Health Organization's regional director, Hanan Balkhy, called for more fuel, food, medical equipment and medics, echoing demands by international leaders for Israel to allow a massive increase in aid.
Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by failing to return the remains of deceased hostages. On Monday, Hamas returned the last 20 surviving hostages but handed back only nine of 28 deceased captives, saying it would need specialist recovery equipment to retrieve the rest from the ruins of Gaza. US advisers and the Red Cross have said there are significant practical difficulties in recovering remains amid the devastation caused by Israel's offensive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he was determined to ensure Hamas handed back the remains of hostages still in Gaza, adding that the fight 'is not over yet'. Speaking at a state ceremony for soldiers killed in the two-year conflict, Netanyahu said Israel would achieve all its war aims and that its enemies had 'learned that anyone who lifts a hand against it will pay a heavy price'.
A senior Hamas official accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire by killing at least 24 people in shootings since Friday, and said a list of such incidents had been handed over to mediators. The Israeli military did not immediately respond but has previously said some Palestinians ignored warnings not to approach Israeli ceasefire positions and that troops 'opened fire to remove the threat'. Regional diplomats and US officials have sought to minimise the significance of the accusations, emphasising that both sides still appear committed to the ceasefire.
Aid workers in Gaza described Israel's continuing restrictions on aid as 'collective punishment'. Balkhy warned that infectious diseases were 'spiralling out of control', with only 13 of Gaza's 36 hospitals partially functioning. A spokesperson for Cogat, the Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, suggested that Rafah would remain closed to aid in the future, adding that humanitarian aid continues to enter through other crossings.
