Humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday as Israel and Hamas temporarily set aside disagreements over the repatriation of hostages' remains, preserving a fragile ceasefire that halted two years of conflict. The Rafah border crossing is set to reopen following Hamas' overnight transfer of four additional bodies to Israeli authorities, though one remains unverified.
Ceasefire Holds Amid Tensions
Israel had threatened to restrict aid flows over delayed returns of deceased hostages, risking the internationally brokered truce that secured the release of all living captives. With 600 aid trucks now approved for entry, relief efforts aim to address Gaza's acute humanitarian crisis while negotiations continue.
Unresolved Issues Threaten Progress
Critical challenges remain unresolved, including Hamas' refusal to disarm and the absence of concrete plans for Gaza's governance. An international task force faces the daunting task of locating 21 remaining hostage bodies amid widespread infrastructure damage.
Parallel obligations require Israel to return 360 Palestinian militants' bodies, with 45 already transferred for identification. Analysts warn that disagreements over these exchanges could still destabilize the agreement as talks enter more complex phases involving regional security frameworks.
