Israel Receives Remains of Two Hostages From Gaza, Rafah Border Remains Closed
Israel received the remains of two hostages from Gaza today, according to the Prime Minister’s office, as efforts continue to recover the bodies of all those taken captive during the October 7th, 2023 attacks.
The remains were transferred via the Red Cross to Israeli forces and are being transported to Israel for formal identification. Hamas stated yesterday that the bodies were recovered in the Palestinian territory on Saturday, bringing the total number of deceased hostages returned to Israel to twelve out of twenty-eight. The delay in the return of all remains has sparked outrage in Israel, as the recent ceasefire agreement stipulated the release of all hostages, both living and dead. Hamas has cited the extensive rubble from Israeli strikes as hindering recovery efforts, claiming Israel restricts the use of heavy machinery in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has ordered the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to remain closed until further notice, linking its reopening to the full return of hostage remains and complete implementation of the ceasefire. This closure is particularly concerning as the Rafah crossing is a vital artery for Palestinians needing medical care and for those attempting to return home; for more information on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, see the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insists that Hamas “uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the hostages.”
As part of the US-brokered deal, Hamas previously returned all twenty living hostages to Israel, and Israel has freed 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. The IDF confirmed the identity of Eliyahu Margalit, the tenth deceased hostage returned, who was taken from Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7th, 2023. Ongoing coverage of the conflict can be found here. The conflict began after Hamas-led gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and initially took 251 hostages.
Officials stated that the Rafah crossing will be reconsidered once all remaining hostage remains are returned and the ceasefire terms are fully met.
