Israel, Egypt allow humanitarian aid into Gaza

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Egyptian President Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday agreed to open the Rafah crossing for up to 20 aid trucks to enter Gaza. Israel’s war cabinet on Wednesday approved the entry amid pressure from the United States and other allies. Israel will not prevent the flow of food, water, and medical supplies into southern Gaza if it does not go to Hamas, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The Rafah crossing has been closed since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists.

How much aid is needed? The United Nations estimates Gaza needs about 100 truckloads of aid daily, said UN aid chief Martin Griffiths. More than 200 trucks and nearly 3,000 tons of supplies are stationed near the Rafah crossing, said Red Crescent for North Sinai leader Khalid Zayed. According to the White House, some aid is expected to enter Gaza on Friday.

Dig deeper: Listen to Paul Butler’s report on The WORLD and Everything in It podcast about the 75-year history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.