As the need for substantial humanitarian assistance arises in Gaza, the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has reported that 61 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Thursday via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, as per The Times of Israel. COGAT, a unit within the Israeli Ministry of Defence, is responsible for coordinating civilian matters involving the Government of Israel, the Israel Defence Forces, international organizations, diplomats, and the Palestinian Authority.
These trucks were primarily loaded with essential supplies, including food, water, and medical resources. In addition to these efforts, various international organizations and countries have been actively contributing humanitarian aid to support the civilians in Gaza.
The United States, for instance, expressed its intent to raise the daily number of trucks crossing to 100, according to The Times of Israel. During a meeting between Vice President Kamala Harris and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussions centered around supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and the urgent necessity of enhancing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as highlighted in a White House statement.
Furthermore, both President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi recently pledged to significantly accelerate and augment assistance to Gaza, commencing immediately and continuing onward.
India, too, has dispatched 38 tons of essential provisions and critical medical equipment to aid the people in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have noted that instead of constructing bomb shelters to safeguard civilians, Hamas has been investing in the construction of underground tunnels for its own protection, leading to concerns that Hamas prioritizes its own interests over the well-being of Gazan civilians. Hamas has been reportedly focusing its resources on a singular objective: the elimination of the State of Israel, as per statements from a senior Hamas official.
Additionally, it is noteworthy that Egypt recently permitted Gazans, specifically those with injuries and foreign passports, to enter its territory on Thursday, marking the first time since October 7 that such crossings were allowed.
