Jerusalem (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Israel reopens Rafah crossing to send aid after Hamas hands over some hostages’ bodies in US-mediated Gaza peace deal.
As reported by The Telegraph, Israel will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to allow humanitarian aid following Hamas’ return of dead hostages.
According to Israel’s Kan broadcaster, 600 trucks of humanitarian aid will pass through the reopened Rafah crossing, organised by the UN and other international groups.
How is Israel reopening the Rafah crossing after Hamas returns hostages?
The Rafah border was reopened by Israel after militant group Hamas returned four hostages’ remains, with another four expected on Wednesday.
The bodies of three hostages have been identified, following US President Donald Trump’s warning to disarm Hamas if hostages are not returned.
He said on Wednesday,
“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.”
The agreement arranged by the US president required the Palestinian group to release all hostages, alive or dead, by Monday.
Hamas freed all 20 living hostages as planned but has returned only eight of the 28 dead held in Gaza.
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s security minister, warned Gaza aid would be cut if Hamas fails to return hostages’ bodies. The group claimed it needs more time to recover bodies buried under Gaza’s rubble and tunnels.
The peace deal relies on a major aid influx to Gaza, following prolonged blockades that worsened hunger conditions.
What did Donald Trump say about Hamas and the next phase of the Gaza deal?
Donald Trump said handing over the hostages’ remains was crucial for the next phase of the US-backed Gaza deal.
He stated,
“A big burden has been lifted, but the job is not done. The dead have not been returned, as promised! Phase two begins right now!”
Mr Trump warned Hamas they would face forceful disarmament unless they surrendered willingly.
He added,
“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.”
How are families coping as only some Gaza hostages’ bodies are returned?
Yael Adar, whose son Tamir died in captivity, claimed Israel could no longer secure Hamas to return of the bodies.
She said,
“I fought for Tamir’s return, and in the end I will receive a coffin, not someone I can hug or look at. Now our mission is to find him as quickly as possible and then begin to cope with the loss and the mourning process. Difficult days are ahead.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum held an urgent meeting and sent a letter to Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump’s envoy who helped arrange the Gaza deal.
They wrote in a letter,
“What we feared is now happening before our eyes. Only four deceased hostages are coming home today. Only four families will be able to bring their loved ones to the dignified burial they so deserve and begin to find closure. How is this possible? How can we accept that the others remain behind?”
Officials confirmed that the four bodies handed over on Monday have been identified. They were Guy Illouz, 26, who died from untreated wounds in captivity, and Bipin Joshi, 23, a Nepalese national killed in captivity.
The others were Yossi Sharabi, kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, and Captain Daniel Peretz, 22, a soldier praised for his bravery during the attack.
The Red Cross warned that some hostages’ remains may never be recovered due to the difficulty of locating them in Gaza’s rubble.
Yvette Cooper’s views on Gaza’s recovery after the ceasefire
Yvette Cooper, UK foreign secretary, stated,
“The UK has worked intensively with international partners in recent months to create the momentum that has led to President Trump’s peace initiative, and to support the ceasefire that is now in place, but we now need to work with the same intensity and urgency to develop a plan for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.”
She added,
“Gaza has been completely devastated. The ceasefire gives us the opportunity not just to urgently scale up humanitarian efforts but also to look to the future of Gaza’s recovery. Rubble must be cleared, infrastructure repaired, healthcare restored and homes rebuilt.”
Key facts about Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan
- Immediate ceasefire and return of all hostages within 72 hours.
- International Stabilization Force (US, Arab, European) to secure Gaza
- A temporary technocratic Palestinian committee governs Gaza under international supervision.
- Full demilitarization, destroying military infrastructure, and disabling weapons.
- Gaza reconstruction, potential Palestinian statehood, and Israeli-Palestinian peace.