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UN agencies warn that the latest fighting has newly displaced nearly one quarter of the Gaza Strip's population this month
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Egypt's Rafah border opens: 20 aid trucks allowed to enter Gaza, then crossing closed
A statement from Hamas' media office says the initial 20 trucks were supposed to 'carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies'
AFP
The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7.
Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.
AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza.
The crossing — the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel — closed again after the trucks passed.
Based on a deal struck between Israel and Egypt, an initial 20 aid trucks would be allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing. It must be ensured that none of the relief parcels would be confiscated by Hamas before more trucks could be allowed to cross the border.
A statement from Hamas' media office released on Saturday said the 20 trucks were supposed to "carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies (canned goods)".
The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter.
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the relief supplies were "the difference between life and death" for many Gazans, more than one million of whom have been displaced.
"Much more" aid needs to be sent, he told a peace summit in Egypt on Saturday.
No fuel allowed
But a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need.
Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin "soon".
Earlier in the day, the US Embassy in Israel said it had "received info" that the Rafah crossing would open at 10am (0700GMT), suggesting that such a move would enable foreigners to leave the besieged Palestinian enclave.
"We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza," it added.
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