Israel decides to reopen the crossing at Rafah, gives up the measures against Hamas

The announcement comes after the Palestinian group Hamas declared terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union delivered the capital remains of four hostages, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on October 15th.

Release of hostages preceded a warning from Israel that it would halve the number of trucks with aid that would be allowed to enter Gaza, but that move was cancelled after the delivery of four bodies of dead hostages.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump called on Hamas to release the dead hostages, saying the war ban is not over.

Hamas released on October 13 of the 20 surviving Israelite hostages, yet Israel freed close to 2,000 Palestinians held in Israel's prisons. That same day, Israeli authorities handed over the mortore remains of four hostages, following Periscope.

Release of hostages and ceasefire in Gaza is part of the first phase of the 20-point plan presented by President Trump for peace in the Palestinian enclave.

On October 14th, Trump said the second phase of his plan has begun. The peace plan envisions Hamas' disarming request Israel had put forward, but was rejected by the Palestinian radical group.

The Gaza War began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas attacked the south of Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping another 251. As a result of Israel's revenge offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry in this enclave.

The war has destroyed large parts of Gaza, and 2 million residents of the territory are facing deep humanitarian crisis. / REL