Israel reopens Erez crossing to facilitate aid delivery to northern Gaza

The World Food Programme estimates that around 1.1 million people in Gaza, half of the population, are facing catastrophic hunger and starvation. In response to this dire situation, Israel has re-opened the Erez crossing to allow more aid to enter the north of Gaza.

International aid organizations have described the situation in Gaza as a widespread humanitarian disaster, with hundreds of thousands of people in northern Gaza at risk of famine. Colone Moshe Tetro, the head of the COGAT Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza, stated, “This is the first day that we re-opened Erez crossing for a robust and continuous route for entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We are facing this challenge every day.”

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres acknowledged some progress towards averting a preventable famine in the north of Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended Israel for making meaningful progress in getting aid into Gaza and discussed ways to expand the humanitarian operation with Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Blinken, on his seventh diplomatic tour of the Middle East, emphasized the importance of securing a ceasefire deal and an exchange of hostages for prisoners. He urged Hamas to accept a deal presented by mediators in Egypt, which includes the release of 33 hostages in exchange for a larger number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, as well as a suspension of hostilities with the possibility of a permanent ceasefire.

Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, affirmed his country’s determination to secure the release of the hostages and warned of potential military operations in the Rafah area. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with efforts ongoing to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the population.