Israel Refuses to Reopen Rafah Crossing, Undermining Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Israel is refusing to reopen the Rafah crossing, directly undermining the ceasefire’s implementation and strangling humanitarian access.

“Hamas says it is meeting its side of the truce agreement while Israel refuses to open the crucial Rafah border crossing”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reports that the Rafah crossing has been closed since May 7, 2024, after Israeli forces seized the area during their invasion of Rafah.

Al Jazeera

The crossing remains shut despite an International Court of Justice order to reopen it, blocking the evacuation of the sick and injured and aid deliveries.

Sky News adds that the ICJ has stated Israel is obligated to ensure the basic needs of civilians in Gaza are met and cannot use starvation as a method of warfare.

Time Magazine reports the ICJ ruled Israel must allow UN agencies, including UNRWA, to operate despite Israeli restrictions.

PressTV and CGTN both highlight that aid flows remain far below what is needed because crossings are closed or tightly controlled by Israel, making the ceasefire largely hollow on the ground.

The humanitarian collapse is measurable.

PressTV reports that since the ceasefire began on October 10, only 986 aid trucks have entered Gaza, representing just 15% of the 6,600 trucks expected.

Time Magazine

PressTV calls the trickle of supplies a policy of strangulation, starvation, and human blackmail.

CGTN cites the World Food Program delivering over 6,700 tonnes of food but averaging 750 tonnes daily—well below the 2,000-tonne target—because border access is restricted.

Al Jazeera links this directly to Israel’s refusal to reopen Rafah, which blocks medical evacuations and aid.

Sky News underscores the International Court of Justice’s ban on using starvation as warfare, making Israel’s continued closure a legal and humanitarian breach of the ceasefire’s intent.

Israel’s military actions are killing Palestinians during the supposed truce, and Rafah’s closure compounds the harm.

“Greg Myre Vice President Vance meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday”

NPR

The Sun reports Israeli bombings killed 45 Palestinians in Rafah after an incident that a Palestinian group denies.

Time writes that Israel accused this group of killing two soldiers and then launched airstrikes and temporarily suspended humanitarian aid.

The Palestinian group denied these claims and accused Israel of multiple ceasefire violations, reporting significant Palestinian casualties.

Al Jazeera says the group reaffirmed commitment to the ceasefire and blamed Israel’s Rafah closure for delaying its implementation.

PressTV adds that continued Israeli attacks are causing Palestinian casualties even as the group stays in the truce.

This pattern, combined with the border still shut, undermines the ceasefire’s core humanitarian purpose.

International law and accountability pressures intensify as Israel keeps Rafah closed.

Sky News reports the ICJ’s opinion that Israel must allow UN aid operations and cannot use starvation as warfare.

PressTV

Time notes the ICJ ruled Israel must allow UNRWA despite Israeli restrictions.

JTA describes a public letter urging compliance with ICJ and ICC rulings, including an ICC arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu, plus sanctions and arms embargoes to force aid delivery.

The New Arab explicitly calls what is happening in Gaza a genocide by Israel.

Anadolu details bodies returned under the ceasefire showing signs of severe torture, including field executions, with Palestinian officials urging ICC investigations.

These accounts underscore allegations of grave crimes that make Israel’s refusal to reopen Rafah indefensible under the ceasefire and international law.

Diplomatic plans to stabilize Gaza are being undermined by Israel’s control over crossings like Rafah and its authority to approve any foreign force.

“Gaza’s media office says Israel killed at least 80 Palestinians since ceasefire deal took effect”

The Guardian

NPR reports a ceasefire plan that would require Hamas to disarm and Israeli troops to withdraw, replaced by an international stabilization force.

The Guardian

However, Israel retains final approval over this force, while the U.S. operates a coordination center and maintains 200 troops outside Gaza.

CGTN describes a second phase involving Hamas disarming, Israeli withdrawal, an Egyptian-led force, and 1,000 Palestinian police taking over.

Aid access remains limited due to closed border crossings, which contradicts the humanitarian goals of the ceasefire.

Sky News notes that Israel has already rejected the presence of Turkish troops in any future force.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that Turkey is a signatory to the ceasefire and remains involved, highlighting further obstacles.

This situation illustrates how Israeli control, including at Rafah, is obstructing the implementation of the truce’s promises.