Wed Oct 22 02:38:28 UTC 2025: News Article:

Hamas Accuses Israel of Violating Ceasefire Agreement, Refusing to Open Rafah Crossing

Gaza/Doha – Hamas is accusing Israel of violating the terms of the current ceasefire agreement by refusing to reopen the Rafah border crossing, a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid and the movement of people in and out of the Gaza Strip. The accusation comes despite both sides continuing to exchange captives and remains as part of the deal.

Hamas officials, speaking from Qatar where they are engaged in talks with Turkish officials, stated that Israel’s failure to open the Rafah crossing is preventing the travel of sick and injured people and hindering the entry of desperately needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

“Israel is delaying the implementation of the ceasefire by failing to open the Rafah crossing,” said Mujahid Muhammad Darwish, head of the Hamas delegation.

The Rafah crossing, connecting Gaza to Egypt, has been closed since May 7, 2024, when Israeli forces seized it during an invasion of the city of Rafah. The United Nations has described the crossing as a vital lifeline for humanitarian access. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to reopen the crossing on May 24, 2024, but the order has not been heeded.

Despite the ongoing dispute over the Rafah crossing, the exchange of captives and remains continues. On Tuesday, Hamas handed over the remains of two Israeli captives, Aryeh Zalmanovich, 85, and Master Sergeant Tamir Adar, 38. The Israeli military confirmed that Zalmanovich died in captivity on November 17, 2023, and that Adar was killed on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel released the remains of 15 Palestinians killed in Israeli detention to Gaza on Tuesday, where medical officials inspected some for signs of abuse.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel released some 2,000 living Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons, and has committed to releasing the remains of 360 more deceased Palestinians.

The situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails remains a point of contention. Ubai Al-Aboudi, the executive director of the Bisan Center for Research and Development, argued that Palestinians imprisoned by Israel should also be considered “hostages,” highlighting that about 20 percent of the Palestinian population has been arrested or detained by Israel over the decades.

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