The Israeli army announced on Wednesday the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing point to “enter humanitarian aid” into the Gaza Strip, four days after its closure following rocket fire on the area.
“Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter, medicine and medical equipment donated by the international community, are already arriving at the crossing point,” said the army in a press release.
After inspection, the cargo will be “transferred to the Gazan side of the crossing”, continues the text which adds that in parallel the Erez crossing point, towards the north of the small Palestinian territory shelled and besieged by Israel, “continues to operate to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.
Qatar on Wednesday called on the international community to act to prevent a “genocide” in Rafah, facing the threat of a large-scale offensive by the Israeli army on this city which has become a refuge for 1.4 million Palestinians. southern edge of the Gaza Strip.
The Gulf country, mediator in negotiations on a truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, called in a statement “for urgent international action that would prevent the city from being invaded and a crime of genocide from being committed.” clerk”.
The United States suspended the delivery of a shipment of bombs last week after Israel’s failure to respond to Washington’s “concerns” over an announced offensive on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, a senior US official said on Tuesday. This delivery “consists of 1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs.” “We have not made a final decision on how to proceed with this shipment,” he added.
Israel and Hamas “should be able to bridge the remaining gaps” to reach a ceasefire agreement currently under discussion, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday. The American executive also deemed it “unacceptable” for Israel to close two major aid entry points into the Gaza Strip, which is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe.
John Kirby also said he hoped that a final agreement would be reached “very soon” during talks in Cairo, Egypt, and was pleased that all stakeholders would send emissaries there.
Hello everyone. The writing of 20 minutes is once again mobilized to give you all the information on the situation in the Middle East. While Rafah has been under a rain of bombs since the beginning of the week, the hope of seeing the weapons fall silent is still there. Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators are currently holding discussions in Cairo with a view to a ceasefire after seven months of war between Israel and Hamas.