Israel said on Thursday it was preparing for the reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt to let Palestinians in and out, but set no date for its completion as it traded blame with Hamas over violations of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire.

A fight over the return of bodies of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza retains the potential to upend the truce along with other major planks of the plan yet to be resolved, including disarmament of militants and Gaza's future governance.

Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters on Thursday that it remained committed to the agreement and continued to uphold its obligations, demanding Hamas return the bodies of the 19 deceased hostages it had not handed over.

The Islamist militant group has handed over 10 bodies — all that it said it

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