Israel has announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, a critical entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The crossing had been closed following a deadly Hamas rocket attack over the weekend. In response to concerns about Israel's planned ground operation in Rafah, the Biden administration temporarily halted the shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel, marking the first known delay in U.S. arms transfers since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Scott Anderson, deputy director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, stated that fuel and aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing would resume as early as Wednesday afternoon local time. Meanwhile, negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage release are ongoing in Cairo, with the United States optimistic that the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas can be bridged.
Israeli troops seized the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza, leading to a halt in the flow of aid into the Strip. Hamas accused Israel of exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with travel and aid supplies coming to a complete stop, according to Wael Abu Omar, a Gaza border official.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on a Jordanian aid convoy bound for Gaza. This incident marked at least the second time in less than a week that an aid convoy was attacked by Israeli protesters.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 34,789 people have been killed and 78,204 injured in Gaza since the conflict began. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers.
Before the recent closures of the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossings, humanitarian groups had already warned of famine in parts of Gaza due to aid delivery restrictions.
Scott Anderson, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, highlighted the challenges faced by the population, including shortages of basic daily needs and the suspension of fuel deliveries to essential services. The closure of the Rafah crossing has also left thousands of Palestinians stranded inside Gaza, unable to seek medical attention elsewhere.
Israel's decision to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing, along with Egypt's assistance in sending aid trucks, is a crucial step in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The crossing plays a vital role in delivering food, water, shelter equipment, medicine, and medical equipment to Gaza's population of over 2 million people, many of whom are facing starvation and hunger.