Aid trucks enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing

AFP

The Rafah crossing opened its doors on Saturday, allowing the first aid shipment from Egypt to enter the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian television broadcast live the entry of a batch of aid trucks into Gaza through the crossing, which has remained closed since the start of the escalation.

This comes one day after a press conference held by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in front of the Rafah crossing, during which he referred to “conditions” that impede the departure of aid trucks to Gaza.

The content of the agreement under which trucks were allowed to cross has not yet been announced, and whether it includes the evacuation of foreign nationals and Palestinians from Gaza.

The crossing was opened hours after Hamas announced the release of two American hostages, among dozens of hostages held by the movement since its attack on Israel on October 7.

Since last Saturday, dozens of trucks have been lined up in front of the crossing and Al Arish, waiting for the green light to cross to the Palestinian side.

Recently, the Egyptian authorities have worked to repair the Palestinian side of the crossing after it was severely damaged due to being subjected to Israeli bombing several times.

Al Arish Airport, close to the crossing, continues to receive humanitarian aid planes from several countries and organisations.

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