The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened today, enabling the delivery of urgently needed aid into the Gaza Strip. Over 200 trucks, carrying an estimated 3,000 tonnes of aid, had been stationed near the crossing awaiting this green light.
Hamas anticipates at least 20 vehicles to cross into Gaza on Saturday.
The UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, took to social media platform X to express the significance of this development. Highlighting the critical nature of this aid, he also stressed the need for continuous humanitarian access to Gaza and urged Israel’s military to exercise “restraint.”
At the Cairo Peace Summit, he advocated for the Israeli government’s adherence to international law, emphasizing the importance of civilian life preservation in Gaza.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, expressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and called for humanitarian consideration in Gaza. Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry lauded the opening of the Rafah border and pressed for a “humanitarian truce.”
Aid expected to enter Gaza includes essential medicines, medical equipment, and food supplies. However, there are concerns that this assistance may not suffice in addressing the worsening medical situation in the region. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that the aid would consist of trauma medicines and other crucial supplies, but the Israeli military clarified that it wouldn’t include fuel.
The Rafah border crossing, which stands as Gaza’s primary non-Israel-controlled gateway to the external world, had been closed since a Hamas attack earlier this month. Although there was an arrangement to reopen it on Friday, brokered by US President Joe Biden, complications arose in the execution of this plan.
Given the dynamic and fluid situation at the crossing, the US Embassy in Israel has issued a warning about the potential chaos at the border, advising US citizens to assess their safety before attempting to cross.
