The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced on Oct. 18 that the Rafah gate would not be opened as scheduled on Monday, Oct. 20, and would remain closed until Hamas “fulfills” its obligations and returns the remaining 18 bodies of hostages. “Its reopening will be considered based on the extent to which Hamas fulfills its part in returning the fallen hostages, and in implementing the agreed-upon framework,” the Prime Minister’s Office said, reported the Times of Israel.
ToI notes that Hamas has only returned 10 bodies, insisting that it is finding it difficult to locate others due to the level of destruction across the Gaza Strip. Israel has accused Hamas of lying, with senior officials insisting Hamas could return a greater number than it has so far provided. (What advantage Hamas would gain by deliberately withholding bodies and lying about it is not explained.)
Not noted by ToI is that Israel has been violating the ceasefire every day since it went into effect, but is being protected by the U.S. In the middle of the outcry over Netanyahu’s refusal to open the gate, the U.S. State Department issued a statement claiming that Hamas is planning an attack on civilians in Gaza. “The United States has informed the guarantor nations of the Gaza peace agreement of credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza,” it claimed. “This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts. The guarantors demand Hamas uphold its obligations under the ceasefire terms.”
The statement warned that “Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.”
Hamas called the statement “ridiculous” and noted that Hamas’ general amnesty for collaborators with the occupation to turn themselves in ends on Oct. 20. “Dozens of collaborators and criminals have already surrendered themselves and their weapons,” it said. Meanwhile, Israel has violated the ceasefire 47 times, resulting in 38 deaths and 140 injuries, Hamas reports.
In other statements, Hamas has warned that Israel’s refusal to reopen the Rafah crossing will obstruct the implementation of the peace agreement, to include the recovery and return of the remaining hostage bodies. “We reject the blackmailing of Palestinians by closing the Rafah crossing, despite our commitment to the terms of the agreement. We call on mediators to pressure the occupation and force it to open the Rafah crossing according to the agreement,” Hamas politburo member Mohammed Naazzal told Al-Jazeera. “We need to bring in heavy equipment and specialized technical teams to help recover the bodies. Negotiations for the second phase have not started yet due to Netanyahu’s intransigence.”
