A week after a fragile ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group has accused Israel of violating the agreement by refusing to reopen the Rafah Crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border — a move it says undermines both humanitarian relief and the broader terms of the truce.
Al Jazeera
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What’s happening?

According to Hamas officials and Gaza media, the Rafah crossing remains closed despite the ceasefire deal. Under the terms of the agreement, humanitarian access and movement through the crossing were to be facilitated as part of the stabilisation phase, but Israel has made the reopening contingent on Hamas returning the remains of Israeli hostages — a condition Hamas says is unrealistic given the destruction in Gaza and access limitations.
Reuters
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In a statement issued Tuesday, Hamas claimed that Israel’s decision to keep Rafah closed “constitutes a blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement and a repudiation of the commitments he made to the mediators and guarantor parties.” The group pointed out that the closure prevents the entry of vital equipment and aid needed to recover bodies of hostages buried under rubble.
Reuters

Humanitarian and diplomatic consequences

The closure of the Rafah crossing isn’t just a logistical blockage — it carries profound humanitarian implications. The crossing is one of the critical entry points for medical evacuations, aid deliveries and movement of civilians between Gaza and Egypt. With it closed, aid flows are constrained and with winter approaching, the risk of a deeper humanitarian crisis grows.
Al Jazeera
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Diplomatically, the issue threatens to erode trust in the ceasefire framework. If one party — in this case Israel — appears to enforce conditions unilaterally (i.e., reopening only after full hostage-remains handover), the other side contests it as a breach. Hamas and its allies warn this could jeopardise the entire second phase of the ceasefire, which includes talks on governance, withdrawal and reconstruction.
Al Jazeera

Israel’s position

From Israel’s perspective, the hostage-remains issue is a red line. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has made clear that the Rafah crossing will remain closed until Hamas fulfils its obligation to return all deceased captives. Israel’s military and diplomatic officials argue that without full implementation of that part of the deal, any reopening would undermine their leverage.
Reuters
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Why the disagreement matters

Credibility of the truce: If either side is seen to be unilaterally imposing conditions, the ceasefire risks collapse. Hamas argues that the closure of the crossing is a form of pressure, while Israel says it is enforcing agreed-upon conditions.

Aid and reconstruction: Gaza’s reconstruction and humanitarian relief hinge on stable access and crossings. Delays hurt civilians and reduce the chances of longer-term stability.

Negotiation momentum: The second phase of the agreement — dealing with governance, disarmament and withdrawal — depends on good faith implementation of initial steps like the opening of Rafah. A breakdown here could derail broader diplomacy.

What’s next?

International mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and the United States, are reportedly pushing both sides to follow through on the terms. Hamas says it remains committed to the deal but warns that continued blockade and access denial will force it to reconsider its compliance. On the Israeli side, officials continue to make the reopening contingent on the hostage-remains handover.

Conclusion

The closure of the Rafah crossing has become a flashpoint in the shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While the headline truce may hold, the subtler details — access, humanitarian flows, fulfilment of commitments — are where the real test lies. Israel’s refusal to open Rafah until full compliance on hostages, and Hamas’s insistence that the blockade itself violates the agreement, reflect the underlying mistrust on both sides. Without a swift resolution of this issue, the broader ceasefire and peace-building process risk being jeopardised.