Aid Trucks Begin Entering Gaza from Egypt Amid Tactical Pause

Aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip resumed on Sunday, with trucks seen entering from Egypt, according to AFPTV footage, as Israel initiated a “tactical pause” in military operations across designated areas of the war-torn enclave to facilitate humanitarian relief.

Movement Through Rafah and Kerem Shalom

While trucks initially approached the Rafah border crossing, they were unable to proceed directly into Gaza, as the Palestinian side of Rafah remains heavily damaged and under Israeli military control since last year. Instead, vehicles were rerouted to the Kerem Shalom crossing (also known as Karam Abu Salem), where they underwent Israeli inspections before entering southern Gaza.

AFPTV visuals showed large lorries bearing sacks of aid traversing Egypt’s Rafah border zone.

• Some trucks displayed the Egyptian Red Crescent logo
• Others carried the Emirati flag, with signs reading:
  “United Arab Emirates – Humanitarian Aid to Gaza – Water Support Projects in Gaza”

Details of the Tactical Pause

The Israeli military stated that the daily tactical pause, running from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, applies only to specific areas where Israeli forces are not actively engaged:

• Al-Mawasi
• Deir el-Balah
• Parts of Gaza City

Additionally, secure humanitarian corridors have been opened to allow access for UN and NGO convoys.

“Safe routes are now open across Gaza to allow aid access,”
— Israeli military statement

Response to Hunger Crisis

This development comes in response to escalating global criticism over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza. While Israel, the UAE, and the UK have initiated air-drops of food supplies, concerns remain about the safety and efficacy of such operations.

“Air drops are expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians,”
— Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General

Ongoing Tensions and Civilian Toll

Despite humanitarian efforts, the situation on the ground remains perilous. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, over 50 Palestinians were killed on Saturday alone, in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire — including individuals waiting for aid.

Relief agencies continue to voice concerns, accusing the Israeli military of:

• Restricting access to aid distribution areas
• Creating volatile conditions that endanger aid workers and recipients

In contrast, Israeli authorities maintain that they are not obstructing aid and argue that some UN agencies are failing to distribute the supplies already inside Gaza efficiently.

As international scrutiny intensifies, humanitarian organisations urge all parties to prioritise unhindered and sustained aid access, stressing that pause windows must be accompanied by broader guarantees of safety for civilians and aid workers alike.