Egypt has agreed to send U.N. humanitarian aid trucks through Israel’s main crossing into Gaza, amidst escalating violence in the southern city of Rafah. The bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct. 7 were recovered from Gaza, according to Israel’s army. The CIA chief met with Israeli and Qatari officials in Paris in an attempt to revive negotiations for a cease-fire and hostage release. As Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, humanitarian groups are struggling to get food and supplies to Palestinians fleeing the violence. The U.N. has ordered Israel to halt the Rafah offensive, and hundreds of aid trucks have been unable to enter Gaza due to fighting in the area.
The U.N. has been struggling to deliver aid to Gaza as Israel’s offensive in Rafah has disrupted the flow of supplies. The U.N. is unable to access trucks entering the Kerem Shalom crossing due to safety concerns. The situation has raised concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing from the violence. The U.N. agency in charge of humanitarian aid in Gaza, UNRWA, had to halt food distribution in Rafah due to a lack of supplies. The main lifelines of aid to Gaza have been shut down, leading to fears of famine and disease spreading among the population.
Egypt has agreed to allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel to enter the Kerem Shalom crossing, but it remains unclear if the U.N. will be able to access additional trucks coming from Egypt. The flow of aid into Gaza has been severely limited, leading to concerns about secondary mortality due to lack of food, water, and medical care. Israeli leaders have said they must uproot Hamas fighters from Rafah to complete the destruction of the group after an attack on Oct. 7 that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 others. The Israeli military has been conducting offensives in Gaza, resulting in thousands of casualties.
The bodies of three hostages killed in the Oct. 7 attack were recovered in Gaza, bringing the total number of hostages killed to six. Israeli forces found the bodies in the Jabalia refugee camp, where they have been fighting with Hamas militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel has a duty to do everything to return those abducted, both alive and deceased. The families of the hostages have been given the bodies for burial. CIA Director Bill Burns is working with Israeli and Qatari officials to try and restart negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of hostages. Talks were stalled earlier this month as Hamas demands guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages, a demand Israel rejects.
