Israel intends to open the Kerem Shalom crossing…under pressure from Biden

The official added that Tel Aviv decided to open the crossing with Gaza to inspect humanitarian aid trucks for the first time since the outbreak of the war. He pointed out that “the aim of this step, which is scheduled to be implemented in the coming days, is to facilitate an increase in the number of aid trucks that can enter Gaza every day.” He pointed out that “the administration of US President Joe Biden and the broader international community has been pressuring Israel for weeks to open the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is the main goods crossing with Gaza.”

For his part, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said Thursday, “There are indicators that call for optimism about the possibility of opening the Kerem Shalom crossing soon to allow more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip.” He added, “We are still conducting negotiations amid some optimistic indicators at the present time.”

The Kerem Shalom crossing is subject to the land crossings authority of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and is located on the border between the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Israel, and through it fuel and goods were transported.

The closure of the crossing since the outbreak of the Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip has affected all aspects of life in the Strip, and the majority of shops were forced to close their doors after they were completely empty of goods and merchandise.

Israel obstructs aid

3,313 trucks of food and relief supplies, fuel, and household gas have crossed into the besieged Gaza Strip since the start of the war, according to what was announced by the head of the Egyptian Presidency’s Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, who confirmed that “Egypt permanently opens the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip to individuals, goods, and any obstacles.” At the crossing you come from the Israeli side.”

For his part, the head of the “Health Emergency Committee” in Rafah, Marwan Al-Hams, said on Thursday that poor nutrition for children and infants increases the incidence of anemia and threatens the spread of diseases and epidemics, especially in overcrowded shelter centers.

Airdrop operation

In terms of delivering aid, the Jordanian army announced on Thursday the implementation of an airdrop of urgent relief aid using parachutes to the Jordanian field hospital in Khan Yunis, south of the besieged Gaza Strip.

He added in a statement, “The crew of the Royal Air Force plane was able to unload boxes containing medical and therapeutic aid to continue the hospital’s work. This step comes in implementation of the royal directives to increase the capacity of medical personnel and to enhance and develop the hospital’s capabilities in providing medical and therapeutic services, in light of the war on sector.”