Egypt says 'Israeli obstacles' impeding aid delivery to Gaza
2 Min Read
Since "Israel" imposed a blockade on Gaza, the Rafah gate has become the major point of humanitarian distribution.
-
Trucks of Egyptian Red Cresent carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip cross the Rafah border gate, in Rafah, Egypt, on October 21, 2023. (AP)
According to Egypt's Foreign Ministry, "Israeli obstacles", such as truck inspection processes, were slowing the timely delivery of supplies to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border between Egypt and besieged Gaza.
A ministry spokesperson stated that "the trucks must be inspected at the Israeli Nitzana crossing before they head to the Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 km (62 miles) before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causes obstacles that significantly delay the arrival of aid."
Since "Israel" imposed a blockade on Gaza, the Rafah gate, which is administered by Egypt but does not border "Israel", has become the major point of humanitarian distribution.
Before the fighting, roughly 500 trucks per day crossed into Gaza, but in recent days, just 12 trucks per day have entered, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
According to a border source, that journey causes a 16-hour delay and is the reason why the number of trucks never again reached the high of 20 trucks on the first day deliveries resumed.
On October 24, UN agencies pleaded "on their knees" for unhindered access to Gaza, claiming that current supplies were insufficient to maintain the Palestinian people following two weeks of Israeli air attacks.
Since "Israel" imposed a full siege on the Strip, relentlessly bombarding it, UN organizations have made more urgent calls for help.
After strenuous diplomatic efforts, trucks of assistance began arriving in Gaza from Egypt last Saturday, but humanitarian groups warn they are far from sufficient. Half of the Strip's 2.3 million residents are homeless, many have been injured, and food and clean water are scarce.
On October 7, the Palestinian organization Hamas announced the launching of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood following a barrage of rockets fired and an infiltration operation into Gaza Envelope settlements. To completely cut off the Gaza Strip, home to over two million people, "Israel" initiated an aggression and issued an order to cut off fuel, food, and water supplies. Later, the embargo was loosened to let vehicles carrying supplies enter the Gaza Strip. Thousands of people have been murdered and injured during the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
