Hamas issued a statement tonight blasting Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s directive to keep the Rafah Crossing closed, accusing Israel of obstructing the agreed-upon exchange process tied to the current ceasefire deal.
Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister’s Office released an official statement outlining Netanyahu’s position: “Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has instructed that the Rafah Crossing not open until further notice. Its opening will be weighed in accordance with the way Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and in the implementation of the agreed-upon plan.”
In response, Hamas claimed that Israel’s refusal “will cause delays in the transfer of the hostages’ bodies under the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli security sources confirmed that all of the bodies of the hostages are still inside Gaza, contradicting Hamas’s claims that it has fulfilled its obligations.
The Rafah Crossing, which serves as the key passageway between Egypt and Gaza, had been slated to reopen as part of the truce arrangement reached between the sides. But Israel’s decision followed Hamas’s failure to comply with the conditions, particularly regarding the full return of the hostages’ remains.
Earlier in the week, Hamas publicly asserted that it had already returned all the bodies in its custody. Israeli officials, however, dismissed that claim, saying intelligence clearly shows that Hamas retains control over or has immediate access to at least eight additional bodies that have yet to be released.
{Matzav.com}
