The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has opened for the first time since Israel closed it off in the wake of Hamas' violent assault, allowing a stream of desperately needed aid to flow into the besieged Palestinian territory.
On Saturday, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened for the first time since Israel closed it off in the wake of Hamas' violent rampage two weeks ago, allowing a stream of desperately needed aid to flow into the besieged Palestinian territory. Just ‘20’ trucks were allowed in, which aid workers thought was insufficient to deal with the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza। For days, over 200 trucks transporting approximately 3,000 tons of assistance have been stationed near the crossing.
Palestinians living in Gaza, 2.3 million of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking dirty water। In the midst of a nationwide power outage, hospitals claim that they are short of medical supplies and emergency generator fuel। As Palestinian militants fire rocket barrages into Israel, Israel is still launching waves of airstrikes across Gaza that have destroyed entire neighborhoods.
The opening followed a week of intense diplomacy by multiple mediators, including US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visits to the region। Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until Hamas had released all the captives from its attack and Israeli airstrikes had blocked the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Martin Griffiths, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, welcomed the delivery, saying it came after “days of deep and intense negotiations with all relevant sides to make sure that aid operation into Gaza resumes as quickly as possible and with the right conditions”। He further stated, “I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, medicine, and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe, dependable, unconditional, and unimpeded manner.
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