Photo courtesy of Egypt's Red Crescent
In a statement, the ERC said the shipment included more than 2,210 tons of food parcels and flour, over 545 tons of medicines and medical and relief supplies, and about 1,265 tons of fuel to operate hospitals and essential facilities in Gaza.
It also included 11,024 clothing items, 3,768 blankets, and about 3,312 tarpaulins.
The convoy is part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to maintain humanitarian support to Gaza, with the ERC serving as the national body coordinating aid deliveries.
At the Rafah crossing, the ERC continued to provide humanitarian services, helping the movement of wounded and sick Palestinians and their companions. It also distributes hot meals, clothing, personal care items, and “return kits” for people heading back to Gaza.
The organization has maintained a continuous presence at the border since the start of the war. The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian side has remained open, and over 900,000 tons of aid have been delivered through a network supported by over 65,000 volunteers.
The latest convoy comes as conditions in Gaza remain critical despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October 2025. Continued violence, movement restrictions, and a severe lack of basic needs have placed further pressure on aid operations.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations have persisted in recent weeks, with Palestinian health officials reporting ongoing casualties from intermittent strikes, underscoring the fragility of the truce.
Access constraints remain one of the major challenges. Newly circulated Israeli military maps show that large parts of Gaza are either under direct Israeli control or classified as restricted zones, making aid delivery more difficult and contributing to civilian displacement, according to humanitarian workers.
Israel says these measures are needed for security, while aid groups argue they are limiting access to already hard-hit areas.
Efforts to deliver aid through alternative routes have also faced increasing obstacles. On Thursday, the Israeli foreign ministry said its forces had arrested about 175 activists aboard more than 20 boats from an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, adding that they were being transferred to Israel.
The flotilla, part of a larger movement of more than 50 vessels that sailed from ports including Marseille, Barcelona, and Syracuse, aimed to challenge the blockade imposed on Gaza.
Organizers said Israeli naval forces surrounded the boats in international waters, calling the move “illegal” and accusing them of threatening activists and jamming communications.
“Communications with 11 vessels have been lost,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said, adding that some boats issued distress signals after being approached by armed speedboats.
The incident follows a similar event in late 2025, when Israeli forces boarded another aid flotilla and detained its crew, drawing criticism from rights groups including Amnesty International.
Short link: