Israel has decided to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, allowing the transfer of much-needed humanitarian aid into the enclave. The decision came after the return of the bodies of four Israeli captives, according to a report by Israeli public broadcaster KAN on Wednesday.
Earlier, Israel had cancelled planned punitive measures against Hamas, which included cutting the number of aid trucks entering Gaza by half. This reversal signals a cautious step toward easing tensions following recent developments under the US-brokered ceasefire deal.
Background to the Rafah Closure
The Rafah crossing was previously kept closed after Hamas failed to hand over the bodies of Israeli prisoners, citing difficulties in locating them. Under the revised arrangement, Israel now requires all aid deliveries to be offloaded on the Palestinian side of the border, where UN agencies and humanitarian groups will handle distribution inside Gaza.
Calls for Sustained Humanitarian Access
Humanitarian organizations have urged Israel to maintain consistent access through all border crossings. “We need all crossings open. The longer Rafah stays closed, the more the suffering prolongs for people in Gaza, especially those displaced in the South,” said UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires.
Slow Aid Deliveries Despite Ceasefire
Despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement ending Israel’s war on Gaza earlier this week—after the final exchange of captives and prisoners—aid deliveries remain limited. ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon said in Geneva, “We are still witnessing only a few trucks coming in, and large crowds approaching these trucks in a way that does not conform to humanitarian standards.”
UN Agencies Struggle to Meet Urgent Needs
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 137 aid trucks entered Gaza since the weekend. However, the organization warned that up to 400,000 people in Gaza City have not received assistance for weeks. Aid groups are now racing to scale up food and medical supplies, as international monitors warn that hundreds of thousands face starvation if humanitarian access does not improve rapidly.
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