TEL AVIV: Egypt has agreed to send United Nations humanitarian aid trucks through Israel’s main crossing into Gaza, but it was unclear if they will be able to enter the territory amid relentless Israeli bombardment in the southern city of Rafah.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly since the onset of Israel’s military operations in Rafah over two weeks ago. International organizations, including the United Nations, have sounded alarms over the drastic reduction in the entry of essential supplies into Gaza, exacerbating an already dire crisis.
The International Court of Justice’s recent order demanding Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah highlights the urgency of the situation. However, with Israel unlikely to comply, the flow of aid remains severely hampered.
However, Israeli control over the Rafah crossing into Egypt, coupled with escalating offensive, has rendered humanitarian aid agencies inoperative. While the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza has remained operational, logistical challenges persist, with the UN unable to access aid due to safety concerns amid Israeli bombardment.
The announcement from Egypt appears to address a political impasse on one side of the border. However, questions linger regarding the UN’s ability to access the additional aid trucks entering from Egypt.
Humanitarian organizations are scrambling to address the dire situation on the ground, with reports of mass displacement and food shortages. UNRWA, the main UN agency involved in the humanitarian response, has been forced to halt food distribution in Rafah due to depleted supplies.
