Israel to Reopen Gaza’s Rafah Crossing for Humanitarian Aid
Following a ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages, Israel will allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the southern Rafah crossing.
Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Wednesday, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian territory.
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, six hundred trucks carrying aid from the United Nations, approved international organizations, private sectors, and donor countries are set to be dispatched to the Gaza Strip.
This decision comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by two years of war that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack.
The UN declared famine in Gaza at the end of August; however, Israel dismissed this claim.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing follows a ceasefire agreement and the recent return of hostages.
Under the truce brokered by US President Donald Trump, Hamas was required to hand over all hostages within 72 hours of the truce's effective date on Friday.
While Hamas released all 20 living hostages on time, it had only handed over the remains of eight out of 28 dead hostages by Tuesday evening.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to cut off aid supplies if Hamas fails to return the remains of soldiers still held in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel was informed of Hamas's intention to return four more bodies on Wednesday, which has not been confirmed by the militant group.
The decision to allow humanitarian aid through Rafah is also influenced by this development.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as all parties involved navigate the complex aftermath of the recent conflict and attempt to address the pressing humanitarian needs of the population.
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, six hundred trucks carrying aid from the United Nations, approved international organizations, private sectors, and donor countries are set to be dispatched to the Gaza Strip.
This decision comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by two years of war that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack.
The UN declared famine in Gaza at the end of August; however, Israel dismissed this claim.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing follows a ceasefire agreement and the recent return of hostages.
Under the truce brokered by US President Donald Trump, Hamas was required to hand over all hostages within 72 hours of the truce's effective date on Friday.
While Hamas released all 20 living hostages on time, it had only handed over the remains of eight out of 28 dead hostages by Tuesday evening.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to cut off aid supplies if Hamas fails to return the remains of soldiers still held in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel was informed of Hamas's intention to return four more bodies on Wednesday, which has not been confirmed by the militant group.
The decision to allow humanitarian aid through Rafah is also influenced by this development.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as all parties involved navigate the complex aftermath of the recent conflict and attempt to address the pressing humanitarian needs of the population.
