Egypt Dispatches 310 Additional Aid Trucks to Gaza Amid Continuing Ceasefire
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Synopsis
On January 27, Egypt sent 310 more humanitarian aid trucks to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in effect, with facilitation from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Key Takeaways
- 310 aid trucks dispatched by Egypt.
- Ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
- Over 4,200 trucks entered Gaza since January 19.
- Heavy machinery sent for road repairs.
- Rafah crossing serves as a key aid gateway.
Cairo, Jan 27 (NationPress) Egypt has dispatched an additional 310 humanitarian aid trucks to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing, as the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains intact. This effort is part of a peace initiative facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, as reported by the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS).
The SIS report specified that the convoy comprises 20 trucks filled with fuel. These trucks are set to pass through the Al-Auja (Nitzana) and Kerem Shalom crossings for inspection by Israeli authorities before reaching Gaza, according to Xinhua news agency.
During the initial six days of the ceasefire, which commenced on January 19, more than 4,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza, as stated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Previously, an Egyptian security source, along with another from the Egyptian Red Crescent, informed Xinhua that Egypt has sent numerous heavy machinery to repair the roads around the crossing and those leading to nearby Palestinian cities, facilitating the arrival of aid trucks and the evacuation of injured Palestinians from Gaza.
A long procession of trucks, filled with humanitarian supplies, made its way towards the heavily secured Rafah crossing shortly after the ceasefire was enacted.
The trucks, which are transporting food, clothing, medical supplies, tents, mobile toilets, and other necessary relief items, have been stationed in various cities in Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, predominantly in Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah, some of which had been waiting for months to deliver aid to the Palestinians in need.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza serves as a crucial entry point for delivering relief supplies provided by Egypt, other nations, and international organizations. Since May 2024, the Palestinian side of the crossing has been under Israeli control, which had previously halted its operation until the recent ceasefire agreement.
The current six-week initial phase of the three-phase ceasefire agreement involves a swap of Israeli captives held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, alongside increased humanitarian aid deliveries and infrastructure restoration in Gaza.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise offensive across the southern Israeli border, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of around 250 others.
Since that time, Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes on Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the latest report from Gaza's health authorities on Sunday.
