A convoy of 20 trucks carrying aid moved through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, according to the United Nations and images shown on Egyptian state television, after days of diplomatic wrangling to get food, water and medicine into the blockaded enclave where essential supplies were running out and hospitals were nearing collapse.
The convoy carrying “life-saving supplies” will be received in Gaza by the Palestinian Red Crescent with the support of the United Nations, the U.N. spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said. Four of the trucks carried medicine and other health-related essentials, the World Health Organization confirmed, which it warned would “barely begin to address the escalating health needs” in Gaza.
“A scaled-up and protected aid operation is desperately needed,” it said in a statement. It was not known whether Israel had inspected the trucks before they moved into Gaza, a key demand by Israel. Israeli inspectors are likely to continue to press to inspect any future aid shipments, diplomats briefed on the negotiations have said.
President Biden said on Wednesday that Israel had agreed to allow food, water and medicine into the blockaded Gaza Strip. Aid trucks have been stuck waiting at the crossing for days as the powers involved haggled over the details of getting the desperately needed supplies through.
While Israel had agreed in general terms to only an initial group of 20 trucks, aid groups have said at least 100 per day are needed.
Several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with talks around opening the crossing said that the primary concern voiced by the Israeli government was that the aid not strengthen or fall into the hands of Hamas, which killed more than 1,400 people and captured about 200 hostages in its Oct. 7 assault into Israel.
As the situation in Gaza worsens, Israel is readying a ground offensive in the territory. The timing of any invasion was unknown, but Israel was gathering forces near the border. Military analysts said that an extended campaign could result in heavy casualties on both sides.
Here are some other developments:
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The Egyptian government is hosting a summit in Cairo aimed at de-escalating the war. In attendance are representatives of the Arab world and Western countries, including many that Arab nations have criticized for being quicker and more enthusiastic in their support of Israel than in their calls to protect civilians in Gaza.
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Mr. Biden and his top aides are trying to head off any major Israeli offensive on Hezbollah, the powerful militia in Lebanon, believing that Israel would struggle with a two-front war and that such a conflict could draw in both the United States and Iran, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
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Hamas released on Friday two Americans it had held captive after discussions with Qatar. The country has acted as an intermediary between Hamas and the United States. They were identified as Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17, who live in the Chicago area.
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The Biden administration tied its request for aid for Israel to Ukraine, formally asking Congress for $105 billion in emergency funding that would include $10.6 billion in military support for Israel and $61.4 billion for Ukraine.
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The death toll from the bombing on Tuesday of a school-turned-shelter in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza rose to eight, according to UNWRA, the agency that administers aid to Palestinians. About 40 others were wounded in the attack, including three UNRWA employees.
