Israel plans to open key Gaza border crossing

JERUSALEM, Dec 03 (AP): Israel said Wednesday that partial remains returned by militants did not match the hostages remaining in Gaza, while it announced plans to reopen a key Gaza border crossing for the exit of Palestinians from the strip.
While the DNA findings marked a setback for ceasefire efforts, the reopening of the Rafah border crossing indicated that the U.S.-backed plan is still moving ahead.
The ceasefire deal calls for the crossing to be opened for medical evacuations and for travel to and from the strip.
The World Health Organization says there are more than 16,500 sick and wounded people who need to leave Gaza for medical care.
It did not say whether there would be restrictions on who was allowed to leave Gaza beyond that they would require "Israeli security approval." It also did not say when the crossing would open.
The couples walked hand in hand, the brides in traditional embroidered Palestinian white and red dresses adorned with red ribbons, the grooms walked beside them in black suits and ties.
But the backdrop told a different story: dilapidated buildings, piles of concrete and rubble-the scars of two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, 54 couples tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza-a defiant celebration of life amid the wreckage of war.
"We needed a moment of happiness like this, something that could make our hearts feel alive again," said Karam Musaaed, one of the grooms.