2023-10-21 06:12:53
The US Embassy in Israel said on Saturday morning that it had received information indicating that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip would open at 10 a.m. local time.
But the embassy added, “If the crossing is opened, it is unclear to what extent foreign nationals may be able to leave Gaza.”
The Rafah crossing was closed shortly following Israel began bombing Gaza, once morest the backdrop of a sudden Hamas attack on October 7, and the dispute over the conditions for delivering aid prevents it from being reopened.
After visiting Israel on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced that an agreement had been reached for 20 aid trucks to cross through the Rafah crossing.
But this will remain only a very small part of what is required. Before the current escalation, regarding 450 aid trucks were arriving in Gaza daily.
UN officials say at least 100 trucks a day are needed to cover urgent needs, and that any aid operation must be sustainable on a large scale.
Most of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million people depend on humanitarian aid.
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