Yesterday, aid trucks entered Gaza, and Israel resumed preparations to reopen the Rafah crossing after resolving a dispute regarding the return of the bodies of hostages who had died, a situation that threatened to obstruct the ceasefire agreement. Video footage captured the first group of trucks moving from the Egyptian side of the border to the Rafah crossing in the early hours of Wednesday, with some carrying fuel and others loaded with supplies.
Egyptian media reported that 200 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing yesterday. Cairo News Channel stated that hundreds more trucks, part of the humanitarian convoy, were waiting to enter Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Al-Auja crossings, which are designated for delivering aid to the besieged territory and are subject to inspection and review by Israeli authorities.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Israel decided to proceed with opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, allowing humanitarian assistance into the region after the return of the bodies of four hostages. It added that Israel canceled planned measures against Hamas, which included not opening the Rafah crossing and halving the number of aid trucks allowed into the region.
The identities of three of the four bodies handed over by Hamas late Tuesday in Gaza have been confirmed. The Israeli army announced that the fourth body does not belong to an Israeli hostage. In a statement, the army indicated that after forensic tests at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body returned by Hamas does not match any missing Israelis, urging Hamas to exert every effort to recover the bodies of all deceased hostages.
Forensic analyses confirmed that the three identified bodies belong to Uriel Baruch, Eitan Levy, and Tamir Namrudi, a soldier killed during his capture earlier in the war, according to the Israeli army, after being abducted alive from a base managed by the Coordination and Liaison Directorate for Gaza.
The Forum of Hostage Families confirmed that the soldier, who was taken hostage by Hamas at the age of 18 from the base located near the Erez crossing, died in Israeli airstrikes on the region. Families of the three identified hostages shared messages on social media following the identification of their loved ones’ remains.
A Hamas source stated that the fourth body “belongs to an Israeli soldier captured during an operation carried out by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the Jabalia camp in May 2024.” The source added that the capture of the soldier and the retrieval of his body occurred during direct clashes with an Israeli force that was attempting to infiltrate the area at that time.
An Israeli security official remarked, “Humanitarian aid continues to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing and other crossings following Israeli security inspections.” The Israeli Broadcasting Authority noted that the aid introduced yesterday included food supplies, medical resources, fuel, cooking gas, and equipment for repairing vital infrastructure.
Two sources told Reuters that the Rafah crossing is expected to reopen today to allow the movement of people, coinciding with the return of an EU monitoring mission to the crossing. The sources did not specify any restrictions that might be enforced on those wishing to travel. The Israeli army and the office of the Israeli Prime Minister did not respond to requests for comments.
**Preparation Status**
In related developments, the Palestinian Authority announced its readiness to operate the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side. It also expressed concerns over who would bear the costs of rebuilding the territory. Mohammad Shtayyeh, a special envoy for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, stated, “We are now ready to operate again, and we have informed all parties of our readiness to manage the Rafah crossing.”
Shtayyeh affirmed that the agreement with the EU border assistance mission to support the Palestinian Authority in effectively managing the Rafah crossing remains in place. During a visit to Switzerland, he told reporters in Geneva that “there is no need for a new agreement as one already exists, and I believe it is now in the final arrangements for implementation,” expressing concerns regarding the costs of reconstructing Gaza.
**Recovery of Remains**
Meanwhile, the health ministry in Gaza announced the recovery of the remains of 45 Palestinians returned by Israel under the ceasefire agreement between the two sides. The ministry stated that it received the remains of 45 deceased individuals released by Israel through the Red Cross, bringing the total number of bodies retrieved to 90.
The ministry confirmed that its medical teams are continuing to handle the remains according to medical procedures and approved protocols, in preparation for further examinations, documentation, and delivery to families. Officials at Nasser Hospital and a reporter from the Associated Press confirmed the arrival of three vehicles carrying the remains.
**Casualties**
On the ground, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Shejaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza yesterday. According to the Palestinian news agency, their bodies were transferred to Al-Makassed Hospital, amidst reports of other potential casualties in the same area. Furthermore, Israeli forces arrested nine Palestinians while they were inspecting their homes in the Al-Fukhari area east of Khan Younis, and detained 15 more in the Al-Nasr neighborhood northeast of Rafah.
**Violations**
A Palestinian rights group announced that Israeli forces committed 36 violations of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Human Rights Center reported that its field team documented 36 instances of airstrikes, artillery fire, and gunfire since the ceasefire began last Friday. The center noted drone strikes in the Shejaiya neighborhood and similar raids in Al-Fukhari, Jabalia, and Rafah.
Additionally, the center indicated that the other violations consisted of gunfire and shelling, primarily occurring in the eastern and northern parts of the territory, targeting individuals attempting to check their homes and residential areas. The rights group asserted that all Israeli attacks occurred without justification and lacked any military necessity, reflecting an intention to maintain a state of fear and tension under various pretexts.