The spokesperson for Hamas, Hazem Qassem, stated that “the movement is monitoring the implementation of the agreement concerning the delivery of the bodies of the Israeli soldiers held by Al-Qassam, as part of its commitment to the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.” Qassem accused “Israel of blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement by killing civilians in Shuja’iyya and Rafah,” according to his statement.
Earlier today, Israeli media reported that Israel “decided to open the border between Gaza and Egypt and allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Strip, following the return of the remains of four detained Israelis,” as they claimed.
According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), the Israeli political leadership decided to lift the planned sanctions on Hamas today due to the return of the remains of four detainees last night, with the intention to return more today. According to the political leadership’s decision, the Rafah crossing will be opened as planned, and humanitarian aid will be delivered.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation noted that “600 aid trucks will enter Gaza with the reopening of the Rafah crossing today.” On Tuesday, Hamas handed over the remains of other detainees to Israel, and the Israeli army stated that it received four coffins from the Red Cross at a meeting point in the northern sector, adding that they were transferred into Israel for forensic examination.
On Tuesday, Israel decided that it would not open the Rafah crossing, citing the failure to receive the remains of the rest of the Israeli detainees from Gaza. The Times of Israel reported, quoting sources, that “Israel will also reduce the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza as part of the sanctions imposed on Hamas.”
