GAZA: Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip on Thursday said that an Israeli strike had killed the head of the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory said the director of the crossing Bassem Ghaben and three other people were killed as Israeli aircraft hit the infrastructure of the border crossing.
The Israeli army and COGAT, offered no comment on the development.
After weeks of pressure, Israel approved the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing temporarily on Friday to allow aid to be delivered directly to Gaza, rather than through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.
Israel’s action to permit aid into Gaza, insufficient: UN official
Senior official of United Nations Tor Wennesland on Tuesday said that Israel’s action to permit aid into Gaza are insufficient. He added that the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza Strip continues to face challenges.
According to Gaza health ministry at least 20,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in unrelenting Israeli bombardments since October 7. The casualties include 8,000 children and 6,200 women, underscoring the devastating toll on the civilian population.
The UN has said that some 1.87 million Palestinians, over 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have left their homes because of the Israeli bombardment of the besieged enclave.
The Israeli raids have almost destroyed entire neighborhoods in northern Gaza. Israeli ground troops have been facing heavy resistance from Hamas fighters in the area.
Earlier, under a week-long truce deal last month that Qatar helped negotiate, supported by Egypt and the United States, 110 captives were released in exchange for 240 Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails.
