So far, the only crossing from the Egyptian side into Gaza that is not controlled by Israel has been closed. Now head of state al-Sisi has apparently promised to let up to 20 trucks roll across the border at Rafah.
The supply of care for people in the Gaza Strip is on the verge of collapse after the deadly rocket hit a clinic. However, there are now increasing signs that relief supplies could soon reach the sealed off area.
“Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Joe Biden have agreed on a permanent delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing,” said presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy. He did not give a date for when deliveries could begin. So far, the only crossing not controlled by Israel has not been opened by the Egyptian side.
Biden: Delivery not before Friday
Biden, who is now returning from his visit to Israel, confirmed the phone call with President al-Sisi. He promised to initially allow “up to 20 trucks” to cross the closed Rafah border crossing. Further deliveries could possibly follow after that. Biden emphasized, however, that if Hamas, which rules in Gaza, confiscates supplies, “then it will stop.” United Nations representatives would take care of the distribution of goods on the Gaza side.
According to local reports, the Rafah border crossing was damaged by Israeli shelling and now requires repairs. Rafah, on the southern edge of the coastal enclave, is seen as the only way to bring urgently needed aid to the Gaza Strip. According to Egyptian information, around 3,000 tons of relief supplies are available there for the trapped people. According to Biden, repairs to the road are needed. Delivery is therefore not expected before Friday.
No aid to Hamas
Shortly after the meeting with Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country would allow the initially blocked aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Israel will not oppose Biden’s call to provide food, water and medicine to civilians in the southern Gaza Strip, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
It will allow aid deliveries from Egypt as long as these deliveries do not reach Hamas, it said. Netanyahu made it clear: “Any shipment that gets to Hamas will be prevented.” No aid deliveries for the population in the Gaza Strip would begin from Israeli territory until Hamas, which rules there, had released all of its approximately 200 hostages who had been kidnapped from Israel.
UN considers 100 trucks per day necessary
The Islamist Hamas killed around 1,400 people in a major attack on Israel on October 7th and abducted around 200 others to the Gaza Strip. Israel then sealed off the Palestinian territory, stopped deliveries of fuel, food and water and launched counterattacks. Israel’s government called on people in Gaza to move south. According to the UN, around a million people have now fled there. Israel’s army speaks of around 600,000.
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday night, UN emergency aid coordinator Martin Griffiths called for immediate access to the Gaza Strip. “We urgently need a mechanism agreed upon by all relevant parties to enable the regular delivery of aid throughout the Gaza Strip,” he said. 100 trucks per day would have to supply people in need throughout the Gaza Strip.
“Doctors of the World”: Hardly any medicines left
The aid organization “Doctors of the World” described the agreement between Biden and al-Sisi as “very, very good news.” Its director François De Keersmaeker said in the joint morning magazine ARD and ZDFIn order to care for the people, medical personnel should no longer be endangered by bombings.
As a result of the escalation of the Middle East conflict, all supplies to the people have come to a standstill; there are hardly any medicines left, no fuel, no electricity and no drinking water. Hardly any more work can be done in the hospitals.