The sole border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to open, allowing hundreds of trucks carrying urgently needed aid into the war-torn Palestinian territory.
Aid agencies expressed hope on Wednesday for increased humanitarian support, particularly in northern Gaza, where over 300,000 displaced individuals have returned in recent days. Humanitarian officials reported that thousands of tons of aid, including food and medical supplies, are loaded on trucks waiting in Egypt or stored elsewhere in the region.
The Egyptian Red Crescent stated that at least 400 aid trucks were en route to Gaza by Wednesday afternoon, though it was uncertain how long border procedures would take before they could enter.
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza faced its first challenge when Israel accused Hamas on Tuesday of violating last week’s agreement by delaying the return of hostages’ bodies. In response, Israel announced it would reduce the number of aid trucks permitted into Gaza to 300—half the amount agreed upon—and indefinitely postpone the opening of the Rafah crossing.
Later that day, Hamas handed over the remains of three more hostages to the Red Cross, bringing the total to eight since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began, with 21 still unaccounted for.
Hamas attributed the delays to difficulties in locating burial sites amid the widespread rubble from the two-year conflict. A fourth body transferred by Hamas was later confirmed not to be that of a hostage.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, the decision to reopen Rafah followed notification that Hamas intended to return four more bodies on Wednesday, though the group has not confirmed this.
Kan also reported that heavy equipment for repairing damaged infrastructure would be allowed into Gaza, and Palestinians who left during the war would be permitted to return for the first time. Others could leave via Rafah, pending Israeli security approval.
Palestinians awaiting medical evacuation said they had not yet received travel notifications from the World Health Organization.
Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO network in Gaza City, described the immense needs in the former commercial and cultural hub. While people are hopeful, he noted that swift improvements at the crossings are essential, as no significant changes have been observed on the ground yet.
He added that aid remains limited, and the full extent of destruction is only now becoming clear, with streets filled with rubble, unsafe homes, and unexploded bombs everywhere.
Rafah has been closed since Israeli forces took control in May 2024, restricting entry into Gaza from Israel. Israel has frequently blocked aid during the conflict, leading to accusations of using starvation as a weapon of war, with famine declared in parts of Gaza in August.
The EU announced on Wednesday that it is prepared to deploy its long-standing humanitarian mission, EUBam, at Rafah if conditions improve.
Humanitarian officials in Gaza City emphasized the desperate need for assistance, with hundreds of thousands lacking clean water, food, and other essentials, and many more suffering greatly.
Although aid was expected to begin flowing over the weekend, delays persisted into Monday.Crossings from Israel were closed to facilitate the transfer of hostages and the return of Palestinian prisoners to Gaza, with Sunday being a national holiday in Israel.
In Gaza City, Palestinians were seen collecting water from a broken pipe on October 12.
Tess Ingram of Unicef, speaking from southern Gaza, expressed disappointment: “We expected Sunday to mark the start of a major increase in aid, but what we’ve witnessed falls far short of the desperate needs here. People are uncertain when they’ll get more water, and there isn’t enough food. In August, we had 45 nutrition clinics open; now only seven remain.”
Future stages of the truce require Hamas to disarm and relinquish power, but the group has resisted, instead tightening its grip on Gaza through public executions and clashes with local clans. Broader aspects of the ceasefire, such as Gaza’s governance and the composition of an international stabilization force, have not yet been fully addressed.
Under the initial plan, all hostages—both alive and deceased—were to be returned by a Monday deadline. However, negotiators acknowledged the difficulty of recovering all bodies amid Gaza’s devastation, allowing Hamas to provide information on deceased hostages while efforts continue to repatriate them as soon as possible.
On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages, while Palestinians rejoiced over Israel’s release of approximately 2,000 prisoners in the first phase of the ceasefire. Talks are ongoing for a second phase, which must tackle several contentious issues.
The truce faces political hurdles, as demonstrated by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister and a critic of the ceasefire. He labeled the aid delivery a “disgrace” on social media, accusing Hamas of deceit and calling for its eradication.
The Hostages Family Forum identified three of the four hostages whose remains were returned on Tuesday as Uriel Baruch, Tamir Nimrodi, and Eitan Levi. Baruch was taken from the Nova music festival during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Nimrodi from the Erez border crossing where he worked, and Levi while driving a friend to a kibbutz.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, managing the repatriation of remains, noted the immense challenge of locating bodies in Gaza’s rubble, estimating it could take days or weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Israel reopening the Rafah border crossing for aid with clear and concise answers
Basic Definition Questions
1 What is the Rafah border crossing
The Rafah crossing is the main border point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt Its a crucial gateway for people and goods especially humanitarian aid
2 Who is reopening the crossing and why now
Israel is allowing the crossing to reopen often in coordination with Egypt and international mediators The primary reason is to allow critically needed humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza
3 What kind of aid is being let in
The aid typically includes essential supplies like food bottled water medical supplies blankets and fuel for hospitals and water desalination plants
4 Who controls the Rafah crossing
Egypt controls its side of the crossing On the Gaza side control has historically been with Hamas but access and security are coordinated with Israel which has a security presence nearby
Operational Logistical Questions
5 How many aid trucks are being let in
The number varies daily based on security and logistical agreements It can range from dozens to over a hundred trucks a day The goal of aid agencies is often to get hundreds of trucks in daily to meet the immense need
6 Are people allowed to cross or just aid
The primary focus of this specific reopening is humanitarian aid The movement of people is a separate more complex process that is sometimes negotiated alongside aid deliveries
7 Why is it so difficult to get aid into Gaza
There are several challenges
Security Checks Israel insists on thorough inspections of every truck to prevent weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes from entering
Damaged Infrastructure Roads and crossing areas can be damaged from conflict slowing down the process
Coordination It requires constant coordination between Israel Egypt the US the UN and other aid agencies which can be slow and complicated
8 Is the aid reaching the people who need it
This is a major concern Aid groups work to distribute aid directly to civilians However in a conflict zone there are always challenges in ensuring it isnt diverted or obstructed International agencies monitor the distribution as closely
