Aid trucks stuck on Egypt's border deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has worsened as aid trucks remain stranded at the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, with the Israeli regime refusing to grant them permission to enter the besieged Palestinian territory. 

Since the Israeli regime forces seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, trucks carrying food and water have been stranded behind the border on the Egyptian side, some for nearly two months, awaiting permission to deliver the much-needed humanitarian supplies to war-torn Gaza.

The Israeli blockade of much-needed supplies amid its ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip is not only exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis there but also, causing an escalation of tensions across the entire West Asia region.

Region going through serious changes amid Gaza war: Egypt

Egypt

Meanwhile, the truck drivers, who parked on the outskirts of the Egyptian city of al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula for weeks, say they have been unable to deliver humanitarian supplies ever since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza-Egypt border in May.

They said the extreme heat and long delay caused some of the food to rot and be discarded.

“I swear to God, before this load, we came here and stood for more than 50 days and eventually the load was returned because it had expired,” said truck driver Elsayed el-Nabawi.

“We had to turn around and return it. We loaded another batch, and here we are standing again and only God knows if this load will make it before it expires or what will happen to it.”

Before the Israeli forces seized Rafah, humanitarian aid trickled in through Egypt for the Gaza Strip. The gate had been a lifeline for the people trapped in the Palestinian territory, allowing the delivery of aid and the evacuation of the wounded and sick.

Foreign aid is not reaching Gaza, EU’s Borrell warns

EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell says despite all international efforts, the US-backed Israeli regime continues to block aid to the trapped Palestinian people.

International efforts and talks with Tel Aviv officials to end the US-backed Israeli regime's blockade of international humanitarian aid have failed.

Meantime, the drivers say they are waiting for the Israeli regime to give them permission to pass.

Ahmed Kamel, one of the truck drivers stranded in Rafah said, “We’ve been stranded here for over a month waiting to deliver this load. We’ve waiting for our turn but nothing yet.

“We don’t know our fate - when we will be able to enter? Today? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? Only God knows. Will the stuff we’re carrying hold up or most of it will go bad?”

Distribution of aid in Gaza was difficult even before Israel’s assault on Rafah. Israel has enforced restrictions on goods entering the enclave, saying it wants to prevent them from reaching the resistance group of Hamas. Some aid convoys have also been hit in Israeli military strikes, resulting in the deaths of aid workers.

US, Israel using starvation to achieve political goals in Gaza: Media office

The Gaza media office called on the international community to condemn this heinous crime against people of Gaza.

Aid groups warn there is a high risk of famine across the besieged coastal territory where the majority of Palestinian people are malnourished.

“They are becoming thinner and thinner,” said Maha Barakat, an assistant minister in the United Arab Emirates foreign ministry and a trained medical doctor.

The lack of nutrition means the sick would not get better and wounds were unable to heal, Barakat said adding that “It is becoming more than just injuries of war.”

Despite international outcry over Tel Aviv's brutal war on Gaza, the genocide continues by forces.

The genocidal war on Gaza, which started in early October 2023, has killed over 38,200 Palestinians, almost half of them children.

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