Aid resumes in Gaza with Rafah crossing set to reopen after hostage body dispute

Aid trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday as Israel prepared to reopen the Rafah crossing after a dispute over the return of deceased hostages nearly undermined a fragile ceasefire with Hamas.

The crossing between Egypt and Gaza is expected to reopen on Thursday, with an EU mission set to deploy. Sources did not specify any restrictions for crossing, and the Israeli military had not responded to requests for comment.

Israel had threatened to keep Rafah shut and reduce aid supplies because Hamas was returning bodies too slowly, showing the risks to a truce that has stopped two years of devastating warfare in Gaza and freed all living hostages held by Hamas.

However, the militant group returned more Israeli bodies overnight, and an Israeli security official said on Wednesday preparations were under way to open Rafah to Gazan citizens, while a second official said that 600 aid trucks would go in.

Dispute over return of hostage bodies

Hamas returned four bodies confirmed as dead hostages on Monday and another four bodies late on Tuesday, though Israeli authorities said one of those bodies was not that of a hostage.