Handover dispute threatens Gaza ceasefire as Israel readies Rafah crossing

A STANDOFF over the return of deceased Israeli hostages held by Hamas is threatening to unravel the fragile ceasefire, while Israel announced plans to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt—though only for people, not aid.

Reuters cited Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian affirming that Israel’s commitment to the deal but insisted that Hamas must account for the 19 remaining bodies it has yet to hand over. While Hamas has released 10 bodies, Israel contends that one is not that of a hostage.

Hamas has pledged to fulfil its obligations, but said many corpses remain buried under rubble or trapped within tunnels destroyed during the conflict—requiring heavy machinery and excavation before they can be recovered.

A senior Hamas official accused Israel of violating the deal, claiming at least 24 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took hold. “The occupying state is working day and night to undermine the agreement through its violations on the ground,” Reuters reported him saying.

While bedlam continues to simmer, Israel said it was preparing to open the Rafah crossing for people to move in and out of Gaza, though it excluded aid shipments from doing so. All humanitarian deliveries are expected to continue passing through Kerem Shalom under Israeli control and inspection.

U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threats against Hamas, warning, “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza … we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.” He later clarified that U.S. forces would not be involved, saying any action would be taken “under our auspices.”

Only three days ago, 20 living hostages were released as part of the deal. Gaza’s health ministry said 30 Palestinian bodies have also been returned to date, bringing the total to 120 since Monday.

Long term plans under Trump’s 20‑point deal, including disarming Hamas, the structure of a “stabilisation force” and governance of Gaza, remain unresolved. With famine sweeping parts of Gaza, aid agencies warn that exponentially more trucks must enter weekly to stave off mass suffering. - October 17, 2025