Egyptian aid and fuel trucks have been halted near the Egypt-Gaza border as Israel resumes its military campaign, leaving the continuation of aid delivery in doubt, according to Egyptian security sources and UN officials. The resumption of fighting has been described as “catastrophic,” with the entrance of trucks carrying much-needed aid, fuel, and cooking gas from Egypt into the Gaza Strip coming to a halt.
The Rafah border crossing, which has been the sole entry point for aid into Gaza, has been closed due to the Israeli bombardment. This closure comes at a time when Gaza is facing an “extremely catastrophic” humanitarian crisis, as stated by Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The health sector in Gaza is on the verge of collapse, with only three hospitals functioning and unable to handle a large influx of patients.
During the week-long truce, more aid was able to enter Gaza, but the quantities remained insufficient for the 2.3 million residents, most of whom have been internally displaced by the ongoing war. Aid trucks had to undergo inspections at the Al-Awja and Nitzana crossings on Egypt’s border with Israel before returning to Rafah for delivery, causing significant delays and bottlenecks.
Egyptian truck drivers have faced lengthy delays and inspections supervised by Israeli security personnel at Al-Awja. The United Nations has called for the opening of the Karem Abu Salem crossing near Rafah, which used to handle large quantities of goods before the war. However, Israel, concerned about aid potentially being used by Hamas, has refused to open the crossing.
The truce allowed for approximately 200 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily, doubling the previous average. Nonetheless, this falls far short of the needs of the population. Prior to the war, as many as 500 trucks would enter Gaza daily with supplies. The truce also allowed for some trucks to drive directly from the Egyptian side into Gaza, bypassing the inspections at Al-Awja.
As the fighting resumes, aid deliveries are once again in jeopardy, with truck drivers expecting further delays and uncertainty. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the death toll rising and medical facilities overwhelmed.
The international community, including the United Nations, continues to advocate for increased aid and the opening of additional crossings to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the political complexities and concerns over the use of aid by Hamas pose significant challenges to these efforts.
In light of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, the world must remain focused on finding a peaceful resolution and ensuring the well-being of the people in Gaza.
