Israel Receives Hostage Remains, Signals Rafah Opening Conditional on Full Return

Israel received a body from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, which the Hamas militant group claims is one of the last two deceased captives. In response, Israel stated it will permit the critical Rafah border crossing with Egypt to reopen only after all hostages are returned. The body was transferred to the Israeli military by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the remains will undergo forensic identification to confirm their identity. This follows a similar handover on Tuesday. However, Israeli officials later stated that those earlier remains did not belong to any of the hostages. Israel's position links the opening of Rafah—a vital gateway for aid and movement—directly to the resolution of the hostage situation. The statement indicates the crossing will open once all captives are freed.