Rafah Crossing to Reopen Sunday; 600 Aid Trucks En Route to Gaza
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Synopsis
On Sunday, the Rafah crossing will reopen, allowing for approximately 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza, as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Egyptian officials are preparing to receive the aid and wounded Palestinians, while hostages are also set to be released.
Key Takeaways
- The Rafah crossing is reopening on Sunday.
- Approximately 600 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza.
- The ceasefire agreement follows a deal for hostage release.
- Egyptian officials are readying hospitals for incoming wounded.
- Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners will be released as part of the deal.
Cairo, Jan 18 (NationPress) An Egyptian security source divulged to Xinhua on Saturday that the Rafah crossing, the sole passageway connecting the Gaza Strip with Egypt, is set to reopen on Sunday.
The source, who preferred to remain unnamed, mentioned that approximately 600 aid trucks are anticipated to enter Gaza via this crossing on Sunday, as part of the ceasefire-for-hostage release agreement.
The long-anticipated ceasefire reached between Hamas and Israel on Wednesday is scheduled to commence on Sunday at 8:30 am local time (0630 GMT).
Heavy machinery has been deployed in the area near the crossing to restore the internal roads leading to Gaza, according to the source.
Another source from the Egyptian Red Crescent teams in North Sinai confirmed to Xinhua that approximately 600 aid trucks carrying medical supplies, tents, and field hospital components, alongside another 50 trucks filled with fuel, are expected to enter Gaza following inspection by the Israeli authorities.
The Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, is currently visiting the crossing to supervise the preparations for receiving injured Palestinians from the Strip, as stated by the source from the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Ahmad Samir, a health official in North Sinai, reported that hospitals in Arish, Sheik Zuweid, and Rafah are fully equipped to accept the injured.
Earlier today, the Israeli government ratified a ceasefire arrangement aimed at securing the release of hostages detained in the Gaza Strip, following an extensive cabinet meeting, as per the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting, 24 ministers supported the agreement, while 8 opposed it.
As part of the initial phase of the deal, three Israeli women held in Gaza and 95 Palestinian prisoners are slated for release on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during the meeting that he received assurances from US President-elect Donald Trump that Israel would receive a halted arms shipment once he assumes office, as reported by Channel 12 News.
"This is crucial because if we do not advance to the second phase of the agreement, we will possess additional resources to resume conflict," Netanyahu remarked. "Trump is providing Israel with complete support to re-engage in war if the agreement is violated."
The full cabinet meeting followed the support of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage agreement by Israel's restricted security cabinet on Friday.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two far-right ministers, expressed their opposition to the agreement and demanded a governmental pledge to recommence fighting in Gaza once the first phase of the agreement, involving the release of 33 Israeli hostages by Hamas, is fulfilled.
Disputes have been settled, as stated by Hamas on Friday, just a day after the group reaffirmed its commitment to the full stipulations of the agreement in an official statement.
