Arish: SiltaNews – News Desk
The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) sent the 126th batch of humanitarian aid trucks from its ‘Zad Al-Izzah: From Egypt to Gaza’ convoy toward the war-battered enclave on Wednesday. The convoy passed through the subsidiary gate of the Rafah border crossing in Egypt’s North Sinai Governorate and is heading toward the Karm Abu Salem crossing for delivery into the enclave.
In response to the severe cold weather and the ongoing low-pressure system affecting Gaza, the ERC has intensified the delivery of essential winter supplies. The aid included over 14,110 winter clothing items, more than 16,800 blankets, 2,350 mattresses, and about 1,340 tents to shelter those affected. On its 126th day, the Zad Al-Izzah convoy also carried thousands of tons of comprehensive humanitarian aid, including over 170,000 food baskets and 520 tons of flour.
The shipment also included more than 1,450 tons of relief and personal care items, and roughly 1,540 tons of petroleum products, aimed at addressing urgent basic needs within the enclave. Since its launch on July 27 last year, the Zad Al-Izzah convoy has delivered thousands of tons of aid, ranging from food supplies, flour, and infant milk to medical supplies, medicines, personal care items, and fuel.
Egypt has repeatedly offered to send humanitarian aid to Gaza directly through the Rafah border crossing, but Israel has blocked the passage after occupying its Palestinian side since May of last year. The crossing was scheduled to open under US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, in effect since October, but Israel delayed the move pending the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli captive in Gaza.
With the remains of Israeli police sergeant Ran Gvili recovered on Monday, the search mission has officially concluded, and Palestinians are now awaiting the reopening of the crossing. According to the Gaza technocrats committee, recently established under Trump’s plan, the crossing is set to reopen this week. Israel has reportedly announced a limited reopening for pedestrians only, not for humanitarian aid, in the coming days, a step that should facilitate civilian movement into and out of the enclave.