Netanyahu reiterates opposition to Palestinian state

Four Isreal Defense Forces soldiers were wounded after Hamas members “carried out an attack against IDF troops operating in eastern Rafah,” in an area in Gaza that is under Israeli control, an Israeli military official told ABC News.

The Hamas members “opened fire and used heavy weapons against” IDF troops, the military official said.

IDF troops “returned fire in response to the attack,” the military official added.

The Israeli military official called this incident “another clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will respond to the attack "accordingly."

-ABC News Jordana Miller

The Red Cross is in possession of a coffin of carrying what is believed to be a deceased hostage that will be turned over to Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip, the IDF and the Shin Bet said in a joint statement Wednesday.

The coffin will be taken to Israel for identification.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Egypt’s State Information Service denied the announcement by Israeli authorities that there is coordination to open the Rafah crossing in the "coming days" for departures from the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian officials quoted an official source as saying that if an agreement is reached to open the crossing, movement would be permitted in both directions -- for entry into and exit from Gaza -- in accordance with arrangements outlined in U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan.

Israeli officials earlier on Wednesday said the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip "will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents" from Gaza.

-ABC News’ Morgan Winsor and Ayat Al-Tawy

The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip "will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents" from Gaza, the Israeli Ministry of Defense's unit in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, called COGAT, said on Wednesday.

"The residents' exit through the Rafah Crossing will be facilitated through coordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism that operated in January 2025," COGAT said in a statement on social media.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller