Heads of state, organizations and human rights groups have recently worked to get emergency aid delivered to civilians in Gaza via Egypt. If we are to believe Israel, it could happen tomorrow at the latest. Spokesman Arye Sharuz Shalicar of the Israeli army (IDF) told the German TV channel RTL last night that the emergency aid could enter on Friday or Saturday at the latest. 165 trucks are on the border between Egypt and Gaza. 20 people are allowed in. Photo: Reuters At the same time, an unnamed source claims to CNN that it is uncertain whether Gaza will receive the emergency aid today due to security challenges and road work. – I wouldn’t bet money on those trailers getting through on Friday, said the unnamed source to the channel. The source, who is familiar with the discussions between Egypt and the US, refers to necessary road work in the buffer zone on the Egyptian side. In addition, there are other details that need to be resolved to ensure that this shipment does not become a one-off. 165 trucks waiting at the border The Rafah crossing is the only route into or out of Gaza that is not controlled by Israel. The border has been closed to both emergency aid and evacuations following Hamas’s 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. Trucks with humanitarian aid have this week been waiting at the border station in Rafah on the Egyptian side. Photo: Omar Aziz / AP At the border stand 165 trucks with humanitarian aid, ready to move into the Gaza Strip to assist the civilian population that has been under a complete blockade since 9 October. Israel has agreed that 20 trucks with aid shipments consisting of water, food and medicine can pass through the border crossing at Rafah. Diplomacy in high gear Since Thursday, several world leaders have made the trip to Israel and Egypt. Both US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have visited Israel to express their support and sympathy for the country. But for Biden, it was also important to negotiate an agreement between Egypt and Israel to allow emergency aid to Gaza, which he could report on the flight home from the Middle East that they had agreed on. Last night, Joe Biden gave a speech to the American people, in which he compared militant Hamas to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP UN chief António Guterres traveled on Thursday to Cairo with the aim of opening the border between Egypt and Gaza, so that emergency aid can enter the Gaza Strip. He also spoke about the UN’s wishes in the war. – Hamas must release its hostages and Israel must give Gaza unlimited access to first aid. Guterres also demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and stressed the urgency of humanitarian aid in the area. Need 100 trucks every day Egyptian authorities have stated that the border crossing at Rafah has limited capacity, because it has been damaged in Israeli air strikes. UN emergency aid chief Martin Griffiths estimated earlier on Wednesday that around 100 trucks of emergency aid are needed a day to meet the enormous humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it hopes the border crossing will open on Friday, and that it is ready to deliver emergency aid.
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The emergency aid to Gaza is still waiting to arrive – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
