Egypt sends 63rd “Zad Al-Izza” aid convoy with 8,000 tons of food, fuel to Gaza
According to an ERC statement, the convoy included over 5,300 tonnes of food parcels and flour, around 2,300 tonnes of medical and relief materials, and 700 tonnes of fuel, underscoring Egypt’s continued commitment to sustaining Gaza’s humanitarian lifeline.
Launched on 27 July, the Zad El-Ezza initiative has delivered tens of thousands of tonnes of aid ranging from food and infant formula to medical equipment, hygiene products and fuel.
The ERC has maintained a permanent presence at the Rafah border crossing since the outbreak of Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, ensuring the continuous movement of aid from the Egyptian side.
To date, Egypt has coordinated the delivery of more than half a million tonnes of humanitarian and relief cargo through a nationwide volunteer network of some 35,000 people operating across ERC logistics hubs.
Despite repeated international pledges to accelerate aid delivery, only about 24 percent of the assistance agreed upon under the ceasefire has actually entered Gaza, according to United Nations (UN) relief agencies.
The rest remains stalled by Israeli inspection, "delayed" security clearances, while damaged roads and the occupation army's ongoing bombardment—in violation of the Gaza Agreement ceasefire signed at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace on 10 October—continue to obstruct distribution inside the still-besieged enclave.
The rest remains stuck at inspection points or delayed by security clearances, while damaged roads and ongoing bombardment continue to obstruct distribution inside the enclave.
UN officials warn that Gaza’s humanitarian system is nearing total collapse, with fuel shortages crippling hospitals, bakeries and water-pumping stations. Many agencies now rely on Egyptian fuel shipments to power emergency clinics, desalination units and communal kitchens.
A joint satellite assessment by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) found that nearly 87 percent of Gaza’s farmland has been damaged or rendered unusable through bombardment, land degradation or irrigation loss. Croplands near Beit Lahia, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis have been particularly devastated, many contaminated by unexploded ordnance and polluted groundwater.
The collapse of Gaza’s agriculture has effectively wiped out domestic food production, leaving the population almost entirely dependent on external aid.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has described the situation as “the most acute food insecurity in modern history,” warning that without steady flour, fuel and fertiliser flows, famine-like conditions could emerge within weeks.
Health agencies, meanwhile, report a surge in child malnutrition and waterborne diseases amid the breakdown of sanitation and healthcare systems.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that four out of five children in Gaza are now acutely food insecure, with thousands suffering dehydration and preventable illnesses due to the lack of clean water.
The renewed Egyptian convoy comes as Gaza’s fragile ceasefire shows increasing strain following a week of fresh Israeli bombardments and rising civilian casualties. Diplomats have warned that the tenuous lull risks devolving into a “no-war, no-peace limbo” unless firm guarantees are restored and international observers reinforced.
Meanwhile, confusion over the return of three bodies via the Red Cross, none belonging to known hostages, has further shaken confidence in the hostage-exchange process and the truce’s overall stability.
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