Egypt Opens Rafah Crossing, Permitting Limited Aid Into Besieged Gaza

For the first time since Israel imposed a blockade following the recent violent escalation by Hamas, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was opened on Saturday, allowing a small volume of much-needed humanitarian aid into the beleaguered Palestinian enclave.

The 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, half of whom have been displaced, face acute shortages, rationing food and relying on contaminated water. Local hospitals are reporting dwindling medical supplies and fuel for essential generators as the region experiences an all-encompassing power outage. Israeli airstrikes persist, decimating entire neighborhoods, while Palestinian militants retaliate with rocket attacks on Israel.

The border reopening is the culmination of over a week of diplomatic efforts involving high-level figures, such as U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Israel had stipulated that no aid would enter Gaza unless about 200 individuals captured by Hamas were released. The Palestinian-controlled side of the crossing had also been disabled due to Israeli airstrikes.

Egypt’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera news outlet reported that merely 20 aid trucks were able to enter Gaza on Saturday, a fraction of the 200 trucks loaded with approximately 3,000 tons of aid that had been stationed near the crossing for several days. Multiple foreign nationals also awaited permission to evacuate from Gaza into Egypt.

Cindy McCain, the director of the U.N.’s World Food Program, deemed the aid inadequate, emphasizing the dire conditions in Gaza and calling for a sustained and increased flow of assistance. Meanwhile, the Hamas-administered government in Gaza stated that the scant convoy could not rectify the humanitarian disaster and urged for a continually operating safe passage.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari asserted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was manageable and specified that aid would only be directed to the southern parts of Gaza, where residents have been advised to move. No fuel supplies would be allowed into the region.

Addressing an international summit in Cairo, Antonio Guterres articulated the growing concerns for Gaza’s civilian population. He stated that while Hamas’ recent attack on Israel was condemnable, it did not warrant collective punishment against the Palestinian people.

Shortly before the border reopening, Hamas freed an American woman and her teenage daughter, marking the first such release following the militant group’s incursion into Israel on October 7. While the exact connection between the release and the border opening remains unclear, the two were released for “humanitarian reasons” as part of a deal with Qatar, a nation frequently involved in regional mediation.

Gaza continues to bear the brunt of relentless airstrikes, with the local Health Ministry reporting that 345 individuals have been killed in the last 24 hours, and seven hospitals rendered nonfunctional due to damages or fuel shortages.

According to the same ministry, over 4,100 people have lost their lives in Gaza, a figure that includes a disputed toll from a recent hospital explosion. A further 1,400 are presumed to be buried under the rubble.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi hosted a summit on Saturday, advocating for humanitarian aid, a cease-fire, and the resumption of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, which have been stalled for over a decade.

King Abdullah II of Jordan criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza as a “war crime” and expressed dissatisfaction with the international community’s response.

The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, along with Britain, France, and Germany, welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing as a significant initial measure to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians.

The World Health Organization revealed that four of the 20 trucks that entered Gaza were carrying crucial medical supplies sufficient for 300,000 people for three months.

This report was compiled by journalists based in Cairo and Jerusalem, with contributions from Isabel DeBre in Jerusalem and Bassem Mroue in Beirut for Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rafah crossing opens

More about Rafah crossing opens

• United Nations Official Statement on Gaza
• U.S. Department of State Briefing on Middle East Diplomacy
• World Health Organization Update on Gaza Medical Supplies
• Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release
• Hamas-run Health Ministry Casualty Reports
• World Food Program Statement on Gaza Aid Needs
• Israeli Defense Ministry Briefing on Conflict
• Human Rights Watch Report on Gaza Crisis
• Jordan’s King Abdullah II Official Remarks
• European Commission Statement on Gaza Aid
• Big Big News Coverage of Gaza Conflict