Pictures from Egyptian television show trucks crossing the border from Egypt to Gaza, writes Reuters. Hamas said in a statement that the emergency aid expected to enter Gaza on Saturday included 20 trucks of medicine, medical equipment and a limited selection of canned food. Earlier this week, Egypt agreed to open the border crossing to the Gaza Strip for around 20 trucks of humanitarian aid. Long convoys of trucks carrying emergency aid have been stuck on the Egyptian side of Rafah. In the negotiations surrounding the opening of the border, Israel has, among other things, demanded that none of the emergency aid be sent to Palestinians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where Gaza City is located, among other things. Israeli authorities have asked all citizens to head south ahead of what appears to be a large-scale Israeli ground invasion. In recent days, intense negotiations have taken place to get the border crossing opened so that emergency aid can be brought in to the severely tested civilian population in the Palestinian area. The Rafah border crossing is the only one out of the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel. It has been closed to both emergency aid and evacuations following Hamas’ attack on 7 October. Since then, neither food, water, medicine nor fuel has been allowed to enter the 2.3 million people who live there. It is currently uncertain whether foreign citizens can leave Gaza as a result of Saturday’s opening of the border. On Friday, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to get around 200 Norwegian citizens out of Gaza. At least half of them are children, according to the foreign minister. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed news on Saturday morning that they continue to follow the situation closely, and inform Norwegian citizens directly as soon as they know whether the border will be opened for emigration.
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The border between Egypt and Gaza opened for emergency aid – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
