FILE: Rafah, Egypt - Aug 6, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Rafah crossing

Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Oct 12, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of destroyed buildings, people clearing debris
3. Various of debris, heavy machines working

Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip - Oct 8, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Various of pedestrians, traffic

Hamas on Saturday condemned Israel's continued closure of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, saying it violates the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to keep the crossing closed until further notice constitutes a blatant breach of the ceasefire agreement and a repudiation of the commitments he made before the mediators and guarantor parties, Hamas said in a press statement.

The decision will delay recovery operations and the handover of bodies of Israeli hostages, according to the statement.

A ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States, went into effect on Oct. 10. Its first phase includes the exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces.

According to the ceasefire agreement, Rafah crossing was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, but Israel announced that it would suspend the reopening due to Hamas' failure to timely return all the bodies of Israeli hostages.

Earlier on Saturday, the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo said the Rafah crossing will reopen on Monday to allow Palestinians residing in Egypt who wish to return to Gaza to pass.

However, Netanyahu's office said later in a statement that the crossing will not open until further notice, and that its opening will be under consideration in accordance with how Hamas implements its part in the return of the deceased hostages and the implementation of the agreed framework.