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Gaza and Rafah CNN ÔÇö The First Trucks Carrying Humanitarian Aid Entered Gaza Through Rafah Crossing Controlled by Egypt

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels following a complete siege imposed by Israel in response to deadly attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas. After two weeks of negotiations, the first trucks carrying aids entered Gaza on Saturday through the Rafah crossing, which is the only entry point not controlled by Israel. The crossing quickly closed after 20 trucks went through. People on the Egyptian side of the border, who had been waiting for days, celebrated the opening of the crossing.

The aid provided by the trucks included medicine, medical supplies, food, and water. While this assistance is desperately needed, aid workers argue that it is merely a fraction of what is required for the 2.2 million people living in Gaza. The delivery of aid was the result of intensive negotiations and a response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region. Hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of collapse, and the population is running out of essential supplies due to relentless bombardment by Israel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over the shortage of supplies, stating that it is working with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent societies to ensure the safe passage of aid to health facilities. Lack of fuel is also a pressing issue, as hospitals and schools in Gaza are running dangerously low on fuel supplies. However, none of the trucks that entered Gaza carried fuel.

The aid delivery coincided with the Cairo Peace Summit, where world leaders gathered to discuss the situation in Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi initiated the summit to de-escalate the crisis and protect civilians in the enclave. Representatives from 34 countries, including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the UN, attended the summit.

The release of two American hostages by Hamas on Friday, the first since their October 7 attacks, raised questions about the fate of other hostages in the event of an Israeli ground incursion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue efforts to bring back all abductees and missing individuals. The release of the two hostages has been welcomed by world leaders, except for those in Israel, who remain skeptical about Hamas’ motivations and are committed to carrying out a counterattack.

The mounting civilian deaths in Gaza have fueled anger across the Middle East. The blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt has further isolated the enclave, exacerbating the healthcare system and clean water access. The United Nations warns that about 1.4 million people have been displaced in Gaza, and over 544,000 are staying at UN-designated emergency shelters, facing dire conditions and increased risk of infectious diseases.

Although Egypt allowed the entry of the first aid trucks through the Rafah crossing, the number of trucks is far from sufficient to address the crisis. The UN relief chief Martin Griffiths emphasized the need to scale up aid delivery to meet the demand. Tamara Alrifai, the director of communications at the UN’s relief body for Palestinian refugees, echoed the sentiment, calling for continuous and reliable assistance.

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