Nearly 800 aid trucks enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom after Israel eases restrictions
The aid deliveries began after Israel eased some of its restrictions late last month, following months of tight border closures that had severely limited humanitarian access to the territory.
Nearly 800 humanitarian aid trucks have been inspected at Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah since July 27, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent. The inspections are part of ongoing efforts to deliver food and essential supplies to Gaza.
The aid deliveries began after Israel eased some of its restrictions late last month, following months of tight border closures that had severely limited humanitarian access to the territory.
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Amal al-Imam, CEO of the Egyptian Red Crescent, said that close to 1,000 trucks had initially been prepared to deliver approximately 14,500 tons of aid.
"The number that was originally prepared was approximately 1,000 trucks carrying around 14,500 tons," Amal told journalists at the Rafah border, according to Africa News.
"So far, 800 trucks have entered Gaza, and today we are waiting to see how many more go through. Most of the cargo is food supplies and flour."
Supporting Palestinians
North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer reiterated Egypt’s commitment to supporting Palestinians, despite political challenges and external criticism.
"What you have witnessed right now... proves that we are still working very hard to send aid to the Gaza Strip and stop starving people from death and killing," he said. "We are playing our role, whatever the propaganda is."
The Rafah crossing, previously the main route for aid entering Gaza from Egypt, has been closed to humanitarian shipments since March 1. Following renewed fighting, Israel has taken control of the Gaza side of the crossing.
As a result, all aid trucks from Egypt are now being rerouted through Kerem Shalom, where they must undergo Israeli inspection before the cargo is handed over to the United Nations and humanitarian agencies for distribution.
Some trucks have reportedly been turned away after Israeli authorities rejected their contents, while others remained in line awaiting clearance as of Wednesday.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched in October 2023 after a deadly Hamas-led attack in southern Israel, has reportedly killed over 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
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