UN: Aid trucks enter Gaza amid ceasefire agreement surge
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The UN confirms that trucks carrying humanitarian aid began entering Gaza following the activation of a ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas.
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Trucks carrying aid for Gaza line up waiting near a checkpoint along a road in Egypt's northern Sinai peninsula near the city of Bir al-Abd on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza after a ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas came into effect, according to the United Nations.
Jonathan Whittall, the interim chief of the UN’s OCHA aid agency for the Palestinian territories, stated on X, “The first trucks of supplies started entering” shortly after the ceasefire began this morning.
A ceasefire finally came into effect in #Gaza at 11:15 today. First trucks of supplies started entering just 15mins later. A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza.
— Jonathan Whittall (@_jwhittall) January 19, 2025
He added, “A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza.”
In a related context, the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed in a post on X that trucks have begun crossing from Egypt into Gaza through the Karam Abu Salem border crossing.
#Ceasefire
— WFP in the Middle East & North Africa (@WFP_MENA) January 19, 2025
The first @WFP trucks have started crossing from Egypt through Kerem Shalom/Karam Abu Salem into #Gaza.
WFP can send around 30,000 tons of food each month to reach over 1 million people.
All border crossings must remain open & function efficiently & reliably. pic.twitter.com/4T7gpMuorE
The WFP also stated that it is capable of delivering approximately 30,000 tons of food each month, which will support over 1 million people in the region. The organization emphasized that all border crossings must remain open and operate smoothly and consistently.
The surge of aid to Gaza is part of a larger deal that will also include the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons.
It is worth noting that the ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas officially came into effect today, Sunday, at 8:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. GMT), raising hopes for an end to the 15-month-long Israeli offensive on Gaza.
The Israeli genocide has caused widespread devastation, leaving tens of thousands dead, injured, or missing and displacing millions of residents.
Egypt launches body to monitor Gaza ceasefire implementation
Egypt has pledged to work in coordination with Qatar and the US to uphold the newly agreed ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the full implementation of its terms. This includes establishing a joint operations room based in Egypt to oversee prisoner exchanges, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, and manage the movement of individuals through the reopened Rafah Crossing.
In a statement on Saturday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the success of diplomatic efforts led by Egypt since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, in collaboration with regional and international partners.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati has lately reaffirmed Egypt's ongoing commitment to delivering aid to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. Under the terms of the ceasefire, 600 trucks of supplies, including 50 carrying fuel, will be allowed into Gaza daily. Northern Gaza, designated as a severely devastated area, will receive 300 trucks of humanitarian assistance each day.
During a press conference with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Abdel Aati emphasized the need for all parties to fulfill their commitments to sustain the ceasefire. He reiterated that the three guarantors—Egypt, Qatar, and the US—would spare no effort in ensuring compliance with the agreement. "Egypt has remained steadfast, exercising strategic patience and persistence to achieve this accord," he stated
