Rafah crossing to open for humanitarian aid

Kathmandu, 19 Oct: Egypt is all set to open up the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid into Gaza beginning probably from Friday.

Joe Biden, President of the United States and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have agreed to open up the Rafah crossing to allow up to 20 trucks of aid into Gaza, according to the BBC.

Biden had made a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday following Hamas attacks launched on 7 October.

The day after the attack, Israel declared the country is ‘at war’ and imposed a ‘complete siege’ of the Gaza strip that led Gaza to the dearth of food, water, electricity and fuel as the bombarding continued for 11 consecutive days.

As the pressure from international allies mounted with the United Nation condemning the complete siege right away, Israel has announced it would allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. However, it said that the Israeli territory would not be allowed for any aid unless hostages are released.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday as US President Joe Biden wrapped up a flying visit to the country, said Al Jazeera.

It further said, In light of President Biden’s demand, Israel will not thwart humanitarian supplies from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population in the southern Gaza Strip, the statement reads adding Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned.