Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that the war in the Gaza Strip will only end when the second phase of the agreed truce, which includes the disarmament of the Hamas terrorist group, is completed.
In a television appearance on Channel 14, Netanyahu said that this phase involves the “demilitarization of the Gaza Strip” and the “confiscation of Hamas weapons.” He said the war will end once this objective is achieved, “easily, but if not, decisively.”
Separately, the Israeli government said Saturday that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed “until further notice.” The prime minister’s office said in a statement that reopening the crossing will depend on Hamas returning the 18 bodies of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave and implementing the agreed-upon ceasefire framework.
Netanyahu urged Hamas to return the bodies if Rafah, considered the main humanitarian aid crossing into Gaza, is to be operational again.
According to the international agreement, Hamas was required to hand over the bodies of the remaining captives within 72 hours of the ceasefire. However, the Palestinian militia has informed the mediators—who, in turn, conveyed the message to Israel and the United States—that it does not have all the bodies, either because some remain buried under rubble in areas where the Israeli military occupation continues or because of a lack of precise information on the whereabouts of some remains. To resolve this issue, the agreement provides for the collaboration of an international force in the search.
On Friday night, Hamas located and handed over the remains of hostage Eliyahu Margalit to the Red Cross, which delivered them to Israel.
Amid the crisis, international aid to Gaza remains insufficient. Since the truce began, food inflows have averaged 560 metric tons per day, according to data from the UN World Food Programme, a figure considered far below the needs of the Strip's population.
The opening of the border crossings has been a source of constant delays and diplomatic tensions. Cogat, the Israeli military department responsible for overseeing the flow of aid into the territory, stated that it was in talks with Egypt to prepare for the partial reopening of the crossing, although it limited the measure to the transit of people and postponed a final decision until later.
The Rafah crossing, vital for the entry of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of people in medical need, has remained closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the Gaza side. A full reopening of the crossing would facilitate transfers for treatment, family reunions, and travel, especially for Palestinians living in Egypt. Meanwhile, restricted access perpetuates shortages of food, medicine, and other essential goods.
The UN has warned that the food crisis in Gaza will persist despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Reversing the officially declared famine in the enclave will require a sustained and prolonged response, according to Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP).
During the humanitarian pause negotiated by the United States, the international organization managed to bring in nearly 3,000 tons of food aid in just a few days, although this amount only covers a fraction of the existing need.
Currently, assistance is being deployed through five distribution centers and one of the goals is to expand coverage to 145 locations, as well as maintain the basic provision of food such as bread, thanks to support for nine operating bakeries, according to the news agency AFP.
Organizations such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent stressed the importance of keeping border crossings open to ensure consistent deliveries to communities, which remain exposed not only to shortages, but also to contexts of violence and strict access controls.
