The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza reopened in the early hours of Saturday, allowing the very first humanitarian convoy to enter the besieged city since the beginning of the conflict on Oct. 7. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) will distribute the aid, which consists of 20 vehicles loaded with medical supplies, drugs and food, Al Jazeera reported.
The border opening follows the release of two Americans who were taken hostage by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. According to IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military has alerted the relatives of 210 hostages that their loved ones are now being held in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas expressed concerns about the initial aid shipment, saying it was insignificant compared to the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza, and that the territory needed considerably more medical supplies and food items. Prior to the fighting, almost 500 trucks entered Gaza on a daily basis.
Mustafa al-Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, emphasized that 7,000 aid trucks are needed in Gaza to address the shortage of food, medicine, and power.
Egyptian authorities multiplied efforts in recent days to restore the road infrastructure on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which had suffered substantial damage from Israeli bombings. Meanwhile, humanitarian relief flights from many countries and organizations continue to land at the adjacent El Erish International Airport, carrying a total of 3,000 tons of food and medical supplies to date.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 4,385 people have been killed in Gaza including 1,756 children.