For Gaza supplies, Israel reopens the vital Kerem Shalom border gate

For Gaza supplies, Israel reopens the vital Kerem Shalom border gate

Aid supplies to southern Gaza will again be able to pass via the Kerem Shalom gate, which Israel said it was restoring four days after Hamas rocket fire blocked it.

The Israeli military reports that lorries carrying food, water, and medication have arrived at the border with Egypt.

Concerned over what it described as Israel "choking off" Gaza's two major relief arteries, the UN had voiced worry on Tuesday.

It occurred after the complete occupation of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border with Egypt by Israeli forces.

In the adjoining city of Rafah, where the Israeli military claims it started a limited offensive on Monday, there were further Israeli airstrikes overnight.

Additionally, a senior US source stated that worries that Israeli troops were about to launch a significant onslaught against Rafah city caused the US to halt a shipment of munitions to Israel last week.

Two thousand-pound bombs were part of the consignment, and they might have catastrophic effects in such a crowded area.

Israel has said that capturing Rafah is necessary for success in its seven-month-old conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Over a million Palestinians have sought safety there from conflict elsewhere, but the UN and Western nations have cautioned that a full-scale attack may have disastrous humanitarian effects.

The US says it has stopped sending bombs to Israel.

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The main entrance point for supplies into Gaza is Kerem Shalom, but Israel closed it on Sunday after the Israeli military said that four Israeli troops were killed by rockets fired by Hamas from the vicinity of the Rafah border.

On Tuesday, six more rockets were thrown from the Rafah region towards Kerem Shalom; however, no fatalities were recorded.

A "precise" operation to "eliminate Hamas terrorists as well as dismantle Hamas terrorist infrastructure within specific areas of eastern Rafah" was described by the military as the reason for the second strike, which took place hours after Israeli tanks rolled into the Palestinian side of the Rafah border.

The Israeli military action "disturbed and distressed" UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Additionally, he requested that the crossings at Rafah and Kerem Shalom be restored right once, stating that their closure was "especially damaging to an already terrible humanitarian situation."

The Israeli military said on Wednesday morning that it had notified foreign organizations of Kerem Shalom's reopening for humanitarian assistance.

"Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, comprising food, water, shelter equipment, medicine and medical equipment donated by organizations around the world are already arriving at the crossing," stated a statement.

"After a thorough security assessment by the security personnel... the equipment is scheduled to be transferred to the Gazan side of the crossing."

The military said that efforts to expedite the entrance of supplies were still being made at the freshly reopened Erez gate with northern Gaza.

In the meanwhile, mediators are expected to reopen talks between Israeli and Palestinian delegations in Cairo over a fresh cease-fire and hostage-release agreement.

Israel said on Monday that it was not in agreement with Hamas's three-phase plan for a truce and captive releases.

The White House spokesperson, John Kirby, said that the remaining holes could "absolutely be closed" in the new language that Hamas has now sent.

Mr. Guterres warned that a "decisive moment" was approaching for the destiny of the whole region and urged Israel and Hamas to "spare no effort" to agree on a truce.

In response to Hamas' cross-border raid on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 252 persons, Israel began a military operation in Gaza to eliminate the organization.

Since then, more than 34,780 people have died in Gaza, as reported by the health ministry operated by Hamas in the region.

In accordance with an agreement reached in November, Hamas released 240 Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons and 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long truce. According to Israel, 128 captives are missing, 36 of whom are thought to be dead.