Twenty trucks of humanitarian aid crossed the Rafah border crossing, according to the UN, towards the Gaza Strip.
Two weeks after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Rafah border crossing was opened on Saturday October 21 to allow the passage of trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egypt to the Gaza Strip. Here’s what to remember from the day.
Humanitarian aid begins arriving in Gaza
A first humanitarian aid convoy crossed the Rafah border post towards from the Gaza Strip, where some 2.4 million inhabitants lack medicine, water, food and fuel since the start of the complete siege of the Palestinian enclave, intensively shelled by the Israeli army, in response to the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7.
Twenty trucks of humanitarian aid crossed the Rafah border crossing, according to the UN, towards the Gaza Strip. For several days, more than a hundred trucks loaded with international aid have been massed at the border, waiting for a green light.
UN calls for continued aid deliveries
“Gazans need much more, a massive delivery of aid is necessary,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from the “Peace Summit” held in Cairo, Egypt. According to the UN, the number of trucks authorized to deliver medical and food aid to the Gaza Strip must be increased to 100 per day.
“We urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing point open so that essential aid for the well-being of the people of Gaza can continue to be delivered.”for his part declared Antony Blinken, the American Secretary of State. “This access must be sustainable to cover all the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza. We call for a humanitarian truce”pleaded the Quai d’Orsay on the social network (ex-Twitter).
Israel wants to “increase strikes” on Gaza
The Israeli army announced on Saturday evening that it planned “increase” its bombings on Gaza, in preparation for the next phase of its offensive on the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas. “From today we will increase the strikes (…)”announced General Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army.
Nearly 100,000 people in London in support of the Palestinians
Nearly 100,000 people marched in London to demand “the end of the war in Gaza” and support the Palestinians. Other mobilizations also took place on Saturday in Birmingham, in central England, or in Cardiff, in Wales, as well as in other European cities.
In France, around a hundred people gathered on Saturday morning in the Old Port of Marseille for a rally “for peace” between Israel and the Palestinians. Similar demonstrations were organized in the afternoon in Rouen and Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), reports France Bleu Normandie.
Moreover, pMore than a thousand demonstrators gathered in front of the French embassy in Tunis to express their support for the Palestinians. They also asked the departure of the French ambassador, reproaching in Paris to support, according to them, Israel in its war with Hamas.