Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday “Israeliobstacles” including truck inspection procedures wereimpedingthe prompt delivery of aid to the GazaStrip through the Rafah crossing betweenEgyptand the Palestinian enclave.
“The trucks must be inspected at theIsraeliNitzana crossing before they headtothe Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 kilometres (62 miles) before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causesobstaclesthat significantly delay the arrival ofaid,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
The Rafah crossing, which is controlled byEgyptand does not border Israel, has become the main point ofaiddeliverysince Israel imposed a siege onGazain retaliation for an attack by Hamas militants from the coastal strip on October 7.
Before the conflict, about 500 trucks a day were crossing intoGaza, but in recent days, an average of only 12 trucks a day have entered, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.
Israel has vowedtowipe out the Hamas group that rulesGaza, which itsayskilled 1,400 people and took hundreds hostage in an October 7 assault on southern Israel.
Gaza’s besieged people had barely any communications with the outside world on Saturday asIsraelijets dropped more bombs and suggested a long-threatened ground offensive against Hamas was starting. Palestinian authoritiessaymore than 7,000 have been killed.
(Published 28 October 2023, 16:46 IST)