The 97th convoy of humanitarian aid trucks began entering toward Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Thursday via the subsidiary gate of the Rafah Land Port in Egypt’s North Sinai governorate, heading toward the Karam Abu Salem crossing, in preparation for their entry into Gaza.
A reliable source at the Rafah port stated that the trucks, part of the “Zad Al-Ezza… From Egypt to Gaza” convoy, are carrying a wide range of humanitarian assistance, including medical and shelter supplies, destined for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The source noted that the trucks are subject to inspection by Israeli occupation authorities before being allowed to enter the enclave.
The “Zad Al-Ezza… From Egypt to Gaza” initiative was launched by the Egyptian Red Crescent on July 27 and includes thousands of tons of aid, comprising food supply chains, flour, infant formula, medical supplies, therapeutic medicines and large quantities of fuel.
Israeli occupation forces closed the crossings connecting Gaza since March 2, following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and the failure to reach an understanding on extending it.
The truce was subsequently violated on March 18 with intense airstrikes and renewed ground incursions into several areas of the Gaza Strip from which Israeli forces had previously withdrawn.
Israeli authorities also blocked the entry of humanitarian aid trucks, fuel and shelter supplies for displaced Palestinians who lost their homes due to the war on Gaza and refused to allow heavy equipment needed for rubble removal and reconstruction into the territory.
In May, Israeli authorities permitted the entry of limited quantities of aid that fell far short of meeting the minimum needs of Gaza’s population. This was carried out through a mechanism implemented in cooperation with a US security company, despite rejection by United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which deemed the mechanism inconsistent with established international humanitarian frameworks.
The Egyptian Red Crescent has been serving as the national mechanism for coordinating and dispatching aid to the Gaza Strip since the onset of the crisis in October 2023.
