Coinciding with the entry into force of the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas, dozens of trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies began to move this Sunday in front of the Rafah border crossing, which connects Egypt with Gaza. During this first day of the truce, however, Egyptian trucks have to continue detouring to Israel before entering the Palestinian enclave, due to Israeli inspection requirements and the destruction of the Strip, which has slowed down the delivery of assistance.
In total, Egypt has sent 330 trucks this Sunday with humanitarian shipments of different types (food, medical supplies, tents, emergency items), including 20 trucks with fuel, according to Egyptian authorities. The convoys, however, have not entered Gaza directly, despite it being the shortest route, but continue heading first to the Al Auga pass, between Egypt and Israel, and then to the Karam Abu Salem commercial crossing, between Israel. and the Strip, to be inspected by Israeli authorities before finally entering the Palestinian enclave. Late Sunday it was unclear how many of the trucks leaving Rafah had arrived in Gaza.
Mohamed, a truck driver transporting fuel and waiting for the fifth day to receive instructions to head towards the Al Auga Pass, says that the whole process is being complicated without any need. “It would be easier if we entered through Rafah to help our Palestinian brothers,” he says. Another truck driver, who also carries fuel, agrees that “unfortunately things are going slowly” due to the obstacles put in place by the Israeli authorities, who “let in a small amount” of supplies compared to those available, “if they let anything in.” ”.
In addition to Israel’s demands, there is the problem that the Palestinian Rafah terminal suffered significant damage when the Israeli army occupied it in May 2024. And while Egypt has redoubled efforts in recent days to help fix some of those defects, its current state still does not allow the passage of humanitarian trucks. A spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Tamara Alrifai, believes that for now “the Rafah crossing will not open for humanitarian goods from Egypt to Gaza.” For this reason, he adds, all UN agencies are going to send the supplies that are stored in Egypt in Al Arish, the capital of North Sinai (where Rafah is also located), through the Karam Abu Salem pass, following a agreement between the UN, Israel and Egypt.
In the first phase of the truce, it is expected that about 600 trucks of humanitarian aid can enter Gaza per day; 200 of them, from Egypt, according to Alrifai. In the last four and a half months, the Israeli authorities, who have been criticized for their harsh blockade policy, allowed a tenth of that aid to be introduced, according to calculations based on UN data. Previous promises to increase aid to the Strip were not fulfilled.
In addition to humanitarian assistance, the agreement between Hamas and Israel provides for wounded or sick Palestinian civilians to be able to leave again through Rafah to receive medical treatment outside Gaza. But by mid-afternoon this Sunday, although there were several Egyptian ambulances waiting at the pass, no civilians had yet left the Strip.
However, a certain relief prevails among the transporters, in addition to a strong feeling of brotherhood with the population of Gaza. “If God wants we will enter with the help; It would make us happy,” says Ahmed, who transports beans and has been waiting 20 days to enter. Emad Matar, another truck driver who brings food—rice, macaroni, tuna, sugar and tea—and who has been waiting for a week, says he feels “happiness” at the possibility of helping alleviate the crisis in Gaza. “Our brothers [palestinos] They die,” he remarks.
