Gaza Herald – Israel announced a conditional approval to reopen the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, allowing only the passage of individuals under full Israeli monitoring, without setting a clear date for implementation.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the move is tied to the recovery of all Israeli captives, alive and dead, effectively linking the crossing’s opening to the retrieval of a specific soldier’s body, which delays any immediate relief.
Israeli media reported that U.S. officials expect the crossing could open by the end of the week, as search operations intensify in northern Gaza under Israeli military supervision.
The decision followed high-level talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focusing on Rafah, the second phase of the ceasefire, and broader security demands.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it had fully complied with the ceasefire’s prisoner and remains file, accusing Israel of using new conditions to obstruct the agreement and prolong Gaza’s isolation.
