Politics

Israel has announced it will reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which is crucial for the Gaza Strip, but only after the search for the last Israeli hostage's body is finished. The crossing has mostly been shut since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side. It was expected to reopen during the initial phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which started in October. However, the Israeli government stated that this reopening depends on Hamas doing everything possible to return the body of the last hostage, Master Sgt Ran Gvili, who is a police officer. On Sunday, Israel's military reported that they had begun a new search for his remains in northern Gaza. While Israel's recent announcement suggests a possible timeframe for reopening the crossing, it is uncertain how long the search for Gvili will take. Israeli media cited military officials saying the search is happening at a cemetery in Gaza City and could take several days. On Thursday, the leader of the new technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza mentioned that the Rafah crossing would open “in both directions” this week. This development comes as US and other mediators urge both sides to make progress on President Donald Trump’s peace plan. On Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office revealed that Israel had “agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism.”