Photo courtesy of The Egyptian Red Crescent.
The convoy, part of the ERC’s Zad El-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza initiative, carried food parcels, flour, medical and relief supplies, and petroleum products to support hospitals and other essential services in Gaza. Winter relief items were also included, such as more than 13,150 pieces of warm clothing, over 29,400 blankets, 1,650 mattresses, 60 mobile toilets, and upwards of 12,200 tents to shelter displaced families.
At Rafah, ERC teams facilitated the movement of the fifth group of Palestinian patients and wounded, overseeing registration, coordinating transfers to Egyptian hospitals for treatment, and accompanying those returning to Gaza after completing care. The organization said these operations are coordinated with Egypt’s Ministries of Health and Social Solidarity.
This comes amid a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side, following the entry into force of the second phase of the ceasefire as well as pressure from Cairo and Washington, after Israel had forcibly shut the crossing in May 2024.
Since the reopening, Egyptian authorities have facilitated the reception, processing, and departure of five groups of Palestinians, prioritizing the wounded, chronically ill patients, and accompanying family members.
The Rafah crossing linking Egypt and Gaza was reopened on the Palestinian side last Monday, allowing Palestinians limited movement between Egypt and the strip. Israel later reclosed the crossing from the Palestinian side on Friday and Saturday, citing the weekend holiday
Under current arrangements, the crossing is operated by Palestinian officials under European Union (EU) oversight, while Israel vets passenger lists in advance and conducts security screenings at a separate facility beyond the crossing.
Egyptian officials emphasized that the crossing has never been fully closed from their side since the outbreak of the conflict, noting that operations continue in line with security conditions and humanitarian arrangements. The ERC has maintained a permanent presence at Rafah since the start of Israel's genocidal war on the strip in October 2023, providing logistical support, distributing food and water, and coordinating medical transfers.
Cumulative ERC operations have delivered more than 800,000 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, supported by over 65,000 volunteers. Egypt has coordinated aid with 59 countries, receiving 943 relief flights and 617 maritime shipments, alongside large-scale land convoys.
Since late July, the ERC has intensified its ground operations through the Zad El-Ezza initiative, sending over 234,000 tonnes of aid, including food, infant formula, medicine, tents, and fuel. Overall, Egypt has facilitated 24,895 aid trucks carrying more than 405,000 tonnes of supplies, including 919 fuel trucks transporting over 290,000 tonnes to keep hospitals and critical facilities operational.
Short link: