The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has encountered new complications just before its planned reopening, hindering humanitarian aid deliveries into the enclave where displaced Palestinians are bracing for the winter months ahead. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had said that the Rafah crossing would probably reopen on Sunday. However, on Saturday night, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that crossing will remain closed until further notice, and the timing of its reopening will depend on how Hamas fulfills its commitments regarding the return of the bodies of the deceased Israeli hostages and the implementation of the agreed ceasefire framework. Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced that the Rafah border crossing would reopen on Monday to allow Palestinians residing in Egypt who wish to return to Gaza to pass. The postponement has led to the holdup of aid trucks gathering on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, exacerbating the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza who are about to spend their third winter, which usually brings temperature drops and freezing rains, since the onset of the latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Currently, various sectors in Egypt are working on necessary procedures and preparing supplies, hoping to transport aid into Gaza as soon as the crossing reopens. As winter, which lasts from November to February, approachs, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is expected to deteriorate further. Despite the thorough preparations by various aid organizations in Egypt, the convoys loaded with life-saving supplies remain stranded on the other side of the border. An Israel-Hamas 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. Under the agreement, Hamas is obliged to return the bodies of 18 more deceased Israeli hostages. Shotlist: Rafah, Egypt - Oct 18, 2025: 1. Office of Egyptian aid organization, aid worker; 2. Aid supplies in office; 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nagla Mahmoud, head, Egyptian aid organization (partially overlaid with shot 4): "Most of the trucks are loaded with food, which might spoil. So we are trying to be very focused on getting them in quickly and completing the procedures in advance. This way, the food in the trucks won't spoil due to the prolonged holdup. We are preparing as many ready-to-eat meals as possible because there is no fuel there. We have over 100 volunteers for aid deliveries, which include flour, rice, canned food, cooking oil, butter, as well as medical supplies and blankets." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 4. Various of aid workers in office [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 5. Aid workers in office; 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nagla Mahmoud, head, Egyptian aid organization (partially overlaid with shot 7): "Because we will be entering during winter, as it was the case last year. We are preparing medicine and medical supplies, including surgical supplies, among other necessities. Winter for the Palestinians there can get much colder than in Egypt. People are urgently in need of blankets, clothing, and tents for shelter because they have been displaced by the bombings. We are particularly focused on this aspect in providing aid." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 7. Aid workers in office [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; FILE: Rafah, Egypt - Aug 6, 2025 8. Various of Rafah crossing; 9. Trucks loaded with supplies waiting to get through. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]