Egypt Dispatches 330 Humanitarian Trucks to Gaza on First Day of Ceasefire

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In compliance with the recently established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Egypt has sent 330 trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies to Gaza. The trucks were staged at the Rafah border crossing, connecting Egypt to the Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025. However, due to Israeli inspection requirements and the destruction within Gaza, these trucks are making lengthy detours through Israel before entering the Palestinian enclave.

Among the dispatched cargo, which includes 20 trucks carrying fuel, deliveries will initially pass through the Al Auga crossing for inspections by Israeli authorities. The situation remains complicated, as the Rafah terminal has sustained significant damage and is currently unfit for direct humanitarian entry.

Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has indicated that there are no immediate plans to open Rafah for humanitarian cargo due to its current state. It is anticipated that during this ceasefire phase, approximately 600 trucks of humanitarian aid daily may enter Gaza, of which 200 are expected from Egypt.

Despite the logistical challenges, there is a shared sense of hope among truck drivers who have been waiting to deliver their cargo. Many express their desire to assist the suffering population in Gaza, with some acknowledging the delays introduced by Israeli controls. The agreement also allows for the transportation of injured or sick Palestinian civilians out of Gaza for medical treatment, although as of late Sunday, no civilians had yet crossed through Rafah.

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