Hamas Returns Additional Hostageโค Remains, Rafah Crossing Remains a point of Contention
israeli authorities received additional remains โof hostages from Hamas, with initialโ reports indicatingโค the transfer โขmay have been unintentional.โข Qatari โขsources, as reported by al Araby, โindicated that five โขmore coffins containing remains are expected to โbe transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
However, theโ rafah crossing, the vitalโ link between Gazaโ adn the egyptian Sinai, remained closed forโ the second consecutive โขday, โฃdespite being slated for reopening under the terms of the current ceasefire agreement. Israel closed the crossing, accusing Hamas of โfailing to fulfillโ its commitment to return the bodies of all hostages who died while in Gaza.
The potential reopeningโข of the Rafah crossing is expected to occur under the supervisionโข ofโ the European Union Border Assistance Mission, and wouldโค allow passage for bothโฃ people andโ vehicles. Israel has also โindicated โขit would scale โback retaliatory measures, possibly increasing the โขnumber of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza -โ currently reduced โby half.
The Palestinian National Authority, led by Abu Mazen,โฃ has strongly condemned recent executionsโ carried out by Hamas โคmilitants against Palestinians accused ofโค opposing the group or collaborating with the Israeli army.A statement โfrom the Authorityโข described the killingsโ as “heinousโค crimes” and emphasized the need โto restore legitimate Palestinian institutions inโ Gaza to end the โคcurrent state of chaos and rebuild โtrust.
US Central Command, through Admiral Brad Cooper, issued an urgent call for Hamas to promptlyโข cease violence and shootings targeting Palestinian civilians in areas under its control and those โprotectedโ by the โคIDF. Since theโ start of the โคtruce, Hamas militants have reportedly been settling scores with โrivals, resulting in the deaths of โdozens of Gazans, with evidence of public executions circulating on social media.
Among those killed was Saleh al-Jafarawi, known as Mr โFafo, a prominentโฃ influencer in Gaza, who โwasโ killed during a clash with the Dughmush clan. He hadโฃ beenโข accused โof misappropriating funds intended for the population.
Throughout the day, the IDF informedโข the families of Sergeantโ Tamir Nimrod (18), Uriel Baruch (35), and โEitan โLev (53) that โฃtheir remains had been identified.
(Source: ANSA Agency)