The Egyptian Red Crescent stated that more than 150 aid trucks were on their way to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing.
On Thursday, two sources from the Egyptian aid organization told AFP that “153 aid trucks entered through the Rafah crossing’s bypass road, en route to the Kerem Shalom crossing, to be brought into the Gaza Strip.”
Moreover, they said that the aid trucks included 80 from the UN, 21 from Qatar and 17 from the Egyptian Red Crescent.
The move followed the announcement of an agreement between Hamas and Israel to implement the first phase of a peace plan proposed by the US President, Donald Trump, to end the war in Gaza.
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the remaining hostages, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, and the increased flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
In the light of this, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, noted that real progress in Gaza will happen with the removal of obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid.
Speaking after the announcement of the agreement, Guterres urged all parties to “abide fully” by the terms of the agreement. “But to turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns,” he said.
“We need full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers; the removal of red tape and impediments; and the rebuilding of shattered infrastructure,” he added.
Moreover, Guterres voiced UN readiness to provide full support and increase food, water, medical supplies and shelter at once. “We and our partners are prepared to move – now. We have the expertise, the distribution networks, and community relationships in place to act,” the UN Secretary-General said.
