Israel announced on Wednesday that it has reopened a main border crossing into Gaza, which had been shut down over the weekend after a Hamas rocket strike that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers. However, the United Nations reports that critical humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people is still not being allowed to pass through.
Israel’s Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), responsible for civilian and humanitarian affairs, stated that trucks from Egypt have already reached the Kerem Shalom crossing.
However, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) later reported on Wednesday that aid is not making its way through the crossing.
Scott Anderson, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, indicated that no aid is entering the entire territory on Wednesday.
Anderson wrote on X, “No fuel or aid has entered into [Gaza] and this is disastrous for the humanitarian response,” Gaza has three border crossings to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, including Kerem Shalom and Erez, a checkpoint in the north. Both are controlled by Israel..
A third crossing connecting Egypt and Gaza in the southern city of Rafah has also been crucial for aid delivery, but was recently seized by Israeli soldiers, effectively shutting it down and putting it under Israel’s control for the first time.
The U.N. has already warned of a famine in northern Gaza, and is warning of an even worse disaster if the border crossings remain closed.
The U.S. had urged Israel to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing after its closure following the rocket attacks, which also injured three Israeli soldiers in the area of the border. Hamas had claimed responsibility for the attacks.
John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson, told reporters Tuesday that the crossing would be opened soon after President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“He assured the president that it would be reopened,” Kirby said.
More than 34,000 people have died in Gaza, and human rights groups and the United Nations are warning the situation will grow worse if Israel conducts a full-scale invasion of Rafah.
The limited Israeli incursion that seized the border crossing does not appear to be a larger attack, but Netanyahu has vowed to proceed in Rafah when his forces are ready.
recently paused
The U.S. a shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs to Israel over concerns about an invasion of Rafah. Israel had recently stopped a delivery of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs to Israel due to worries about a potential invasion of Rafah.
