Ceasefire Tensions Rise as Israel Disputes Hamas-Returned Body, EU Prepares Rafah Mission
Israel’s fragile ceasefire with Hamas faces new strain after the Israeli military announced that one of four bodies returned by Hamas on Tuesday does not belong to a hostage held in Gaza. The ongoing dispute coincides with the resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the European Union’s preparations to deploy a mission at the Rafah crossing.
On Wednesday, forensic teams in Gaza began identifying 45 Palestinian bodies handed over by Israel to the Red Cross the previous day without identification. It remains unclear whether these were individuals who died in Israeli custody or bodies taken from Gaza by Israeli forces. An Associated Press journalist witnessed three trucks carrying bodies arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
Meanwhile, aid deliveries resumed after a two-day pause, with the Egyptian Red Crescent reporting 400 trucks carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies headed for Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 19 bodies, including 16 recovered from rubble, were brought to Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours, alongside 35 wounded individuals. The ministry’s tally, which does not include the 45 bodies transferred by Israel, lists 67,938 deaths and 169,638 injuries since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. The ministry notes that roughly half of the casualties are women and children, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
The European Union announced it is ready to deploy its European Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) at the Rafah crossing to support the Gaza peace plan, pending improved conditions. “We remain on standby and stand ready to deploy at short notice,” said Anouar El Anouni, a European Commission spokesperson. The EU, a key supporter of the Palestinian Authority, also proposed extending a West Bank police support program to Gaza to bolster a stabilization force outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan. However, the war has deepened tensions, pushing Israel-EU relations to a historic low.
