Netanyahu Closes Rafah Crossing Indefinitely: Hamas Condemns, Washington Warns of Ceasefire Collapse
Abdallah Mchnoun
Despite expectations for a humanitarian breakthrough through the Rafah border crossing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the crossing will remain closed at this stage, linking its reopening to the return of the Israeli soldiers’ bodies held by Hamas.
Netanyahu’s statements came at a time when Palestinian sources in Cairo revealed prior arrangements to open the crossing, aimed at facilitating the return of those stranded back to the Gaza Strip, in a move that initially appeared to be part of implementing the recent ceasefire agreements.
For its part, Hamas described this Israeli escalation as a blatant violation of international agreements, holding Tel Aviv responsible for the continued humanitarian suffering in the Strip, particularly regarding the prevention of specialized teams from retrieving victims from under the rubble and obstructing the treatment of the injured and their transfer outside Gaza.
The movement stated that Israel’s obstinacy threatens to undermine the ceasefire, representing a retreat from the commitments made by Israel to regional and international mediators.
In Washington, the U.S. State Department expressed concern over the potential deterioration of conditions again, noting that it had received information indicating the likelihood of “hostile actions” by Hamas that could jeopardize the ceasefire. An official statement confirmed that any potential breach would be met with actions taken to protect civilians.
This comes amid ongoing debate about the future of Gaza, where unresolved issues related to reconstruction, disarmament, and governance arrangements remain, alongside international proposals to send a stabilization force to the Strip linked to political steps toward a comprehensive solution.
