The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off and began pounding it with airstrikes following Hamas’ bloody rampage two weeks ago.
Just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tons of aid have been waiting nearby for days.
Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking dirty water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout. Five hospitals have stopped functioning because of fuel shortages and bombing damage, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said.
Why is Egypt being so miserly with the border crossing? Surely it doesn’t cost them anything to let in 200 aid trucks vs 20.
Is this a one way trip for the drivers?
Because Israel keeps bombing near there, the roads leading to it are destroyed and Israel is the number one party that is opposed to the humanitarian aid.
So no, Egypt is trying to get those trucks in without all their volunteers dying in a giant fire caused by the Israeli army.
It may not cost Egypt directly but it will definitely be costly to whoever is crossing the border, especially during this heightened conflict and when it’s strategically important not to give any breathing space to the Gaza residents so that they’ll move to the south. Israel has record of killing international activists who were within the vicinity of Gaza blockade before, e.g. the memorable Mavi Marmara incident.
Agreed. It takes a lot of guts to drive into a situation you won’t be able to leave. That’s courage.
Maybe I’m cynical, but Egypt might not want to bail out Israel because this catastrophe makes Israel look bad.
From what I understand Egypt by treaty isn’t in full control of what comes into Rafah. Normally goods aren’t allowed in at all and must first cross into Israeli-controlled territory and then into Gaza through a different crossing. Worst case scenario Egypt sends in aid and the trucks get attacked.