According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, Israel has approved the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing temporarily.
“The cabinet’s decision determines that only humanitarian aid arriving from Egypt will be transferred into the Gaza Strip this way,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The office noted that the opening would allow Israel to maintain its commitments to permit the entry of 200 trucks of aid a day, agreed upon in a hostage deal brokered and implemented last month.
Also, Netanyahu’s office disclosed that the United States has committed to pay for the upgrade of the Rafah crossing “as soon as possible to enable the transfer of humanitarian aid only via Rafah after passing Israeli security screening.”
The Karem Abu Salem crossing had been closed since the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Aid was being delivered solely through Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt which, Israel said, could only facilitate the entry of 100 trucks a day.
The World Health Organization called the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing “good news.”
U.S National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan described the border reopening as “a significant step.”
“President Biden raised this issue in recent phone calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and it was an important topic of discussion during my visit to Israel over the past two days,” he said in a statement.
“We will continue to work closely with Egypt and other partners on the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance through Rafah crossing, and we hope that this new opening will ease congestion and help facilitate the delivery of life-saving assistance to those who need it urgently in Gaza.”
Jake Sullivan
“The U.S remains committed to expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” he added.
Additionally, UK Foreign Minister, David Cameron noted in a post on X that he is “very pleased to see Israel’s decision to open Kerem Shalom.”
Cameron stated that the decision is “a vital step towards ensuring significantly more lifesaving aid can reach people in Gaza.”
He added that he and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have been strongly advocating for Israel to allow aid through a second border crossing.
Saudi Arabia, Iran and China Express Concern Over Gaza’s Situation
Also on Friday, officials from Saudi Arabia, Iran and China “expressed concern” over the situation in Gaza and how the conflict will affect “peace and security in the region”, a statement from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed.
This came as top diplomats from the three countries concluded their first formal meeting in Beijing.
The ministry also said the diplomats reviewed “positive outcomes” of improved ties between the kingdom and Iran.
It said that the Saudi and Iranian ministers expressed appreciation for the role China played in brokering a reconciliation and both pledged to abide by the agreements.
The officials also expressed the “urgent need” for a halt in military activities and the importance of delivering aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
In other developments, UNHCR Chief stated that war in Gaza must not turn into a refugee crisis.
Head of the UN’s refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, made these comments in reference to the possibility that the thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza could flee to Egypt as Israel’s military operations move further south.
“I want to be clear: what is already a massive displacement crisis within Gaza must not turn into yet another refugee crisis,” he said.
Grandi stressed, “Many more [people] have been displaced into an already impoverished corner of an already tiny sliver of land. That violence must stop.”
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