Three trucks carrying more than 120 thousand liters of fuel were slated to enter the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, with authorities indicating passage through the Rafah border crossing, according to Egyptian broadcast coverage from Al Kahera News. The report stated, “Three trucks carrying 129 thousand liters of fuel will enter Gaza at 9:00 am today (10:00 Moscow time – socialbites.ca).”
Earlier, Israel’s military cabinet had approved a U.S. recommendation allowing the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service to access Gaza for humanitarian needs, permitting entry of two tanks of fuel per day for United Nations-related requirements. This arrangement marks a shift in the ongoing operational considerations surrounding civilian aid in the region.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has highlighted the scale of humanitarian needs in Gaza, emphasizing that the territory requires hundreds of trucks of aid daily to address critical shortages in medical supplies, food, and essentials for civilians affected by the conflict. The situation has intensified as the broader regional crisis continues to unfold.
Since October 7, the Middle East has witnessed a dramatic escalation after thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, an action linked to the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the country is at war and outlined planning aimed at neutralizing the attack and securing the release of hostages.
The Israeli government has stated that the military response, known as Operation Iron Sword, seeks to repel the assault, facilitate the release of more than 200 hostages, including foreign nationals, and dismantle Hamas’s capabilities. In the initial phase of the conflict, Israel launched extensive rocket strikes on targets within the Gaza Strip. Concurrently, the Israeli National Security Council decided to cut essential supplies to the area, including water, food, fuel, and electricity, in an effort to pressure Hamas. Humanitarian aid deliveries through Rafah resumed only after October 20, but officials described the initial volume as insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date of the ground phase remained unclear, but the conflict prompted hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes, seeking shelter in safer areas further south in the region.
Accounts from Palestinians who previously fled the Gaza Strip describe life under wartime conditions, detailing disruptions to daily life, shortages of essentials, and the challenges of navigating danger while seeking safety. The broader humanitarian context continues to be shaped by the ongoing military actions, international diplomacy, and the efforts of aid organizations to assist civilians caught in the crossfire.