Twenty truckloads of aid have crossed into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah checkpoint on the Egyptian border.
These are the first supplies allowed to enter Gaza since Israel tightened its blockade of the territory a fortnight ago. The aid – which includes medicine and food – is being transferred onto UN and Red Crescent vehicles.
Once the cargo arrives at a warehouse, it will be divided up for distribution to hospitals and evacuees from northern Gaza.
The main UN agency helping Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has welcomed the movement of the first supplies, but said far more was urgently needed.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 60 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip has been displaced as a result of the ongoing Israeli air strikes.
Release of two American hostages
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has welcomed the release of an American mother and daughter seized at gunpoint by Hamas.
Mr. Biden said the pair had endured “a terrible ordeal”. Judith and Natalie Raanan were among about 200 people abducted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is trying to free more hostages, though his forces will also “fight till victory”.
Tensions in southern Lebanon
Meanwhile, Israel has been targeting areas near the southern Lebanese villages of Yaroun and Bint Jbeil in retaliation for missiles strikes on an Israeli settlement in Upper Galilee at dawn on Saturday morning.
Elsewhere, the leaders of Arab and European countries are meeting in Cairo to discuss the Gaza crisis, but expectations are low because key players like Iran – and Israel itself – aren’t present at the gathering.
By Nathan Morley | vaticannews
