Gaza: Israel has decided to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, facilitating the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This decision follows the return of the remains of three detainees.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) reported that Israel has reversed its previous stance and canceled measures it had planned against Hamas. These measures included reducing by half the number of aid trucks entering the Strip. With the reopening of the Rafah crossing, 600 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza, as reported later on Wednesday by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.

The development comes after Hamas handed over the remains of other detainees to Israel on Tuesday, marking some progress amidst setbacks in the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military confirmed receiving four coffins from the Red Cross at a meeting point in the northern Gaza Strip, which were then transferred into Israel for forensic examinations.

Initially, Israel had announced a restriction on the number of humanitarian aid trucks allowed into Gaza as a punitive measure against Hamas. This action was in response to what Israel claimed was a breach of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas, which required the return of detainee bodies. Despite the recent handover, several issues remain unresolved, including the return of the remaining detainees’ remains to end the prolonged conflict.

Hamas has so far returned eight bodies, but at least 19 detainees are still presumed dead, with the fate of one detainee unknown. The resolution of these issues is critical to advancing the agreement aimed at ending the more than two-year-old fighting.