The fragile peace in Gaza is facing its first challenge, and it's a doozy. Israel has decided to cut aid and keep the Rafah crossing closed, citing a breach of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas. But here's where it gets controversial...
The ceasefire, brokered by the US, was meant to bring relief to the devastated Palestinian territory. Yet, Israel claims that Hamas is withholding the bodies of Israeli hostages, which is a key condition of the agreement.
On Monday, there was a glimmer of hope as the last 20 living hostages were returned to Israel, and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees were released. However, the remains of four dead hostages were also returned, and Hamas had previously warned that finding the bodies of another 24 could take time due to unidentified burial sites.
Israeli military officials, as reported by Haaretz, believe Hamas is deliberately delaying the transfer of more hostage remains, despite having knowledge of their locations. This has sparked a heated debate, with Donald Trump urging Hamas to release the remaining bodies, stating it's crucial for the next phase of the Gaza plan.
Trump's social media post, "A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE. THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!", reflects the urgency and frustration felt by many.
The 20-point plan proposed by Trump is ill-defined, leaving room for interpretation and potential conflict. Early tensions were expected, but the move to restrict aid and postpone the opening of Rafah, a vital crossing point, has shocked many.
The ceasefire plan clearly states that "all hostages, alive and deceased" should be returned within 72 hours, with a mechanism in place for delays. Hamas is expected to share information and "exert maximum effort" to fulfill these commitments.
The International Committee of the Red Cross acknowledges the challenges, describing the handover of remains as a "massive challenge" due to the rubble-filled territory. Christian Cardon, an ICRC official, emphasized the difficulty of finding bodies amidst the destruction.
Ela Haimi, whose husband was killed in a Hamas attack, supports the restriction of humanitarian aid into Gaza. She believes Hamas is not doing enough and that Israel should use its leverage to control the flow of trucks into the strip.
Tensions rose on Monday, with sporadic violence across Gaza. Israeli forces, which had withdrawn from parts of Gaza, opened fire on civilians approaching their positions, reportedly killing six. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson, described drone strikes that killed five people inspecting their homes and another in a strike southeast of Khan Younis.
The Israeli military justified the shootings, stating they warned "suspects" identified as threats. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesperson, accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire and trying to evade its commitments.
Reports of shootings, beatings, and firefights continued as Hamas reasserted its authority, sending armed fighters into the streets. A disturbing video circulated on Monday showed Hamas fighters executing seven men in a Gaza City square, with dozens of onlookers.
Trump has given Hamas temporary control of Gaza, but Israeli officials insist on permanent disarmament. On Tuesday, Trump warned Hamas, stating, "If they don't disarm, we will disarm them, and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently."
The delay in opening Rafah has dismayed humanitarian officials, as limited supplies have entered since the ceasefire. The UN reported that tents, meat, fruit, flour, and medicines crossed into Gaza on Saturday, but no trucks entered on Monday due to the hostage passage, and Tuesday was a Jewish holiday.
Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO Network, said, "We need services, tents, water, heavy equipment... Everything. We cannot say there is a flood of aid."
On Tuesday, a Gaza hospital received the bodies of 45 Palestinians from Israel, as part of Trump's plan to end the two-year conflict triggered by a Hamas attack that killed 1,200. The ensuing Israeli offensive killed 67,000 and injured over 170,000.
The agreement also states that Israel will provide information on Palestinian remains in Israeli custody. Attention now turns to setting up the transitional authority and multinational stabilization force, with a "board of peace" chaired by Trump and possibly led by Tony Blair.
Badr Abdelatty, the Egyptian foreign minister, announced 15 Palestinian technocrats to administer Gaza, approved by all factions, including Hamas, and vetted by Israel. He stated, "The board of peace should support and supervise the flow of finance for Gaza's reconstruction."
As tens of thousands return to their ruined homes, the full extent of Gaza's destruction is becoming clear. Jaco Cilliers, a UN representative, estimated the reconstruction cost at $70 billion, with $20 billion needed in the next three years and the rest over decades.
The situation is complex and emotionally charged. What are your thoughts on the current state of affairs in Gaza? Do you think the restrictions on aid are justified? Feel free to share your opinions and engage in a respectful discussion in the comments.
