Israeli regime troops detained 15 Palestinians in Nassr, northeast of Rafah in southern Gaza, according to local correspondents on the ground.
The arrests come just two days after Tel Aviv released nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, most of whom had been unlawfully held in Gaza during its ongoing assault.
The Palestinian Authority says it is prepared to resume operation of the key Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid.
“Now we are ready to engage again, and we have notified all parties that we are ready to operate the Rafah crossing,” said Mohammad Shtayyeh, former Palestinian Authority prime minister and senior Fatah official.
Sources indicate that the Israeli political leadership, is using the issue as a public-relations maneuver, has since retreated from earlier positions.
Observers recall that no agreement required the retrieval of all 28 bodies of Israeli captives within the 72-hour window designated for living hostages.
Officials had acknowledged difficulties in recovering bodies as early as January, citing massive destruction across Gaza.
Mossad officials reportedly discussed the issue with the families of captives months before any formal deal was reached.
Israeli media reports suggest Tel Aviv has withdrawn an earlier communication to the United Nations that sought to cut aid deliveries in half and keep the Rafah crossing shut.
The crossing remains vital for the evacuation of thousands of wounded Palestinians needing treatment outside the besieged enclave.
Israeli outlets claim that Hamas intends to hand over the remains of four captives, while Tel Aviv is expected to reopen the Rafah crossing to permit limited aid deliveries.
On May 7, 2024, Israeli occupation forces seized the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah crossings, cutting off all humanitarian access from Egypt through what the United Nations described as Gaza’s “aid arteries.”
The move followed the regime’s ground invasion of Rafah, which forced over one million Palestinians to flee their homes.
The International Court of Justice ordered Tel Aviv on May 24, 2024, to reopen Rafah following South Africa’s emergency appeal, but the regime defied the ruling, keeping the crossing largely sealed except for limited access through Karem Abu Salem.
Rafah residents only began returning to their ruined city after a fragile ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025.
The crossing briefly reopened in February for medical evacuations before Israeli authorities issued new forced evacuation orders at the end of March.