Trump's peace plan in jeopardy: Israel and Hamas fail to reach agreement
Illustrative photo: Israel closes the Rafah crossing again (Getty Images)
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has once again become the focal point of an international standoff, as Israel suspended its operations, Reuters reports.
The Rafah border crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with Egypt, will remain closed indefinitely. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision to reopen it will only be made after Hamas hands over the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages.
Earlier, the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt announced plans to reopen the crossing on Monday for entry into Gaza. However, Israel’s statement has cast serious doubt on those plans.
Hamas response and Israel's stance
Hamas condemned Israel’s decision as a violation of agreements brokered by the United States, accusing Israel of reneging on its obligations under the ceasefire deal.
Representatives of the group said the closure of Rafah will hamper efforts to recover and identify the remains of hostages trapped under rubble.
Israel, meanwhile, reported receiving two additional bodies of hostages on Saturday.
Under the existing agreement, 12 of the 28 bodies have already been returned. Israeli officials believe the transfer process is proceeding too slowly.
Fragile ceasefire and Trump's peace plan
The dispute over the bodies highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and threatens to derail the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the conflict.
According to the deal, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages, held for over two years, in exchange for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Israel also pledged to return 360 bodies of Palestinian militants in exchange for the remains of Israelis. Authorities say the country has so far delivered 15 bodies for each one received, while Hamas claims that devastation in Gaza is slowing the recovery process.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Rafah has been closed since May 2024, severely restricting the flow of humanitarian aid. According to the UN World Food Programme, Gaza currently receives about 560 tons of food daily, far below the required amount.
The IPC report indicates that hundreds of thousands of residents face the risk of famine. Despite a modest increase in aid over the summer, the situation remains critical.
Following several rounds of negotiations, humanitarian convoys began entering Gaza, and Hamas handed over new bodies of hostages, prompting Israel to start preparations for a potential reopening of the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition have proposed lifting restrictions on arms exports to Israel, arguing that after the peace agreement with Hamas, Berlin should review its current weapons-supply policy.
