Israeli occupation regime to shut Rafah Crossing until further notice

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
18 Oct 2025 23:18
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The announcement came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt stated that the crossing would reopen on Monday.

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Birds fly over Rafah crossing, Egypt, as a temporary ceasefire went into effect, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Saturday that the Rafah crossing closure will remain in effect “until further notice.” The statement alleged that the reopening of the crossing would depend on Hamas's cooperation in returning the bodies of Israeli captives and implementing the terms of the agreed framework.

This announcement came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt stated that the crossing would reopen on Monday, creating further conflict over the status of humanitarian access.

Netanyahu’s remarks highlight his government’s ongoing efforts to leverage the humanitarian situation in Gaza for political ends, a hallmark of "Israel's" current genocide policy.

In a newly released statement, al-Qassam Brigades announced that they will hand over the bodies of two captives at 10 pm Gaza time.

The two Israeli captives were recovered today in the #Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/mIt6Nj8Zv9
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 18, 2025

Hamas says Netanyahu exploiting humanitarian aid

Hamas strongly condemned Netanyahu’s statement, stressing it was a reflection of “his fascist government in punishing the people of Gaza and manipulating the humanitarian file to achieve political gains.”

The movement emphasized that delays in the return of Israeli captives in Gaza, particularly the bodies of the deceased, are due to the complexity of the situation on the ground. Some of the bodies, Hamas noted, were buried in tunnels that have since been destroyed by occupation forces, while others remain trapped beneath rubble caused by the ongoing bombardment.

Hamas held Netanyahu’s government fully responsible for the delays, accusing it of obstructing the recovery process by preventing the entry of necessary equipment and resources into the Strip.

Al-Qassam confirm commitment to agreements

Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued a separate statement affirming its adherence to the terms of the agreement.

The group stated that it had already “handed over all the living captives and the bodies in its possession that it was able to reach.”

However, it noted that the remaining bodies “require considerable effort and special equipment to search for and recover,” adding that efforts are ongoing to close the file. The Al-Qassam Brigades statement underlined that the group is committed to the process, despite the obstacles imposed by the occupation.