Aid to Gaza Ceases After Israel Seizes Rafah Border Crossing

The United Nations and other international aid organizations state that with the closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings to southern Gaza, the region's connection to foreign aid has effectively been severed. They also mention that very few stores are operational within Gaza. Israeli forces seized the main border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza (Rafah crossing) on Tuesday, May 18, blocking one of the main routes for delivering vital aid to the besieged Palestinian area. Prior to the closure of these crossings, international organizations had already warned that Gaza was in dire conditions and on the brink of famine. Israel closed the Kerem Shalom crossing following a Hamas attack that reportedly injured several Israelis. Hamas, on the other hand, accuses Israel of attempting to undermine efforts to ensure a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Egyptian Red Crescent sources also reported that the shipment of humanitarian aid has completely stopped. The Rafah crossing with Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel are crucial points for the entry of food, medicine, and other supplies that the 2.3 million population of Gaza relies on. According to the Associated Press, these two crossings have been closed for at least the past two days, although the smaller Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza continues to operate. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 others, Israel launched an invasion of Gaza aimed at destroying this group backed by the Islamic Republic and recovering the hostages. During negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, over 100 kidnapped hostages were released. There are still 133 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and Israel believes that at least 20 of them have lost their lives. Hamas officials have repeatedly stated since the October 7 terrorist attack that they will carry out such attacks again if possible. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israeli tanks have entered the Rafah crossing in Gaza. The White House stated that Netanyahu agreed in talks with Biden to keep the Kerem Shalom crossing open for humanitarian aid.