Gaza Herald – Despite the declared ceasefire, Israel continues to block the reopening of the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only lifeline to the outside world, tightening its control over the already devastated enclave.
The crossing, once vital for the entry of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the wounded, remains closed as Israeli forces maintain control over the Palestinian side, refusing to restore normal operations or hand over management to the Palestinian Authority.
Local officials say the closure is a deliberate political and military tactic, as Israel links the reopening of the crossing to conditions over the return of its deceased captives, effectively holding two million besieged Palestinians hostage to political bargaining.
Humanitarian groups warn that the continued closure of Rafah deepens the suffering of Gaza’s war-ravaged population, blocking food, medicine, and fuel from entering, a move they call another form of collective punishment amid the ongoing genocide.
