
Trucks with humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip enter from Egypt in Rafah on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. AP
“The process of transporting aid to the Gaza Strip faces major logistical problems imposed by the Israeli side,” the spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Abu Zeid, said in a statement on Saturday.
Israel requires the aid convoys to be inspected first at the Israeli Nitsana crossing -- located opposite the Egyptian El-Ouga crossing -- and then travel nearly 100 km to the Egyptian Rafah crossing before entering Gaza, Abu Zeid explained.
The Israeli measure “creates bureaucratic burdens and hurdles that significantly delay the arrival of this aid,” he added, highlighting the “overly strict” and “slow-paced” inspection measures imposed by the Israeli side.
Israel, he added, also has refused the entry of many aid convoys citing “various political considerations and security allegations.”
Abu Zeid also said the recurring Israeli attacks on the Palestinian side of the crossing are another cause of the delay.
“It is important for everyone to be aware of who is the party delaying the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip,” the spokesman stressed.
He also called on Israel to stop its “obstructive measures” and allow urgent humanitarian aid into the strip.
Also on Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday warned of the "desperate situation" in Gaza demanding a "pause of hostilities" to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians after Israel's intense overnight bombing of the strip.
Since 7 October, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment campaign on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 7,700 and wounding more than 20,000 people.
Israeli airstrikes have destroyed more than half of the homes in Gaza, leaving more than 1.5 million Palestinians without shelter.
Moreover, Israel has put 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza under a complete blockade, cutting off all access to food, water, power, and fuel supplies, despite global warnings of a developing humanitarian catastrophe.
On Friday, the UNRWA, called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying many people are going hungry in the strip.
Egypt has designated Al-Arish airport in North Sinai to receive life-saving supplies from international and regional parties to be delivered to the Palestinians through the Rafah Border Crossing, the only point not controlled by Israel.
Al-Arish Airport has received over 50 planes from various countries carrying humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza.
Israel has so far allowed a trickle of desperately needed aid into the blockaded Palestinian territory.
More than 100 trucks of aid are needed per day to cover urgent needs.
Tens of trucks have been stalled on the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to enter Gaza.
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