Reopening of 'Karem Shalom' Crossing for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza; U.S. Welcomes It

On Friday, December 15, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the reopening of the 'Karem Shalom' crossing for the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This statement came after intensified pressure from the United States and just hours after a meeting between Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor of the White House, and Israeli officials. Sullivan welcomed this move shortly after the announcement, describing it as 'an important step.' The National Security Advisor stated that Washington is encouraging Israel to focus on targeting Hamas leaders instead of extensive bombing and ground operations. According to Netanyahu's office, for the first time, it has revealed that based on last month's ceasefire agreement, Israel is committed to facilitating the daily entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has also allowed for the release of 105 hostages. The 'Times of Israel' reported that the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian border, as the only crossing for humanitarian aid to Gaza, has the capacity to allow the daily passage of 100 trucks. According to the Israeli Prime Minister's office, the government cabinet has temporarily agreed to allow the unloading of truck shipments at the 'Karem Shalom' crossing as part of the ceasefire agreement. An Israeli official stated that this agreement only includes aid sent from Egypt and does not cover UN shipments. The report indicated that the Israeli Prime Minister's office, referring to the U.S. commitment to enhance the Rafah border crossing system, anticipates that improved conditions at this Egyptian crossing will eliminate the need to use the Israeli crossing for necessary aid transfers to the Gaza Strip in the future. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Israeli forces besieged the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas control, and Netanyahu announced at that time that he would not allow any aid to enter Gaza. Two weeks later, Israel permitted the entry of humanitarian aid trucks from the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip, adding that it would not open the 'Karem Shalom' crossing for humanitarian aid to Gaza until the hostages were released. While prior to the war, 500 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza daily, the United Nations stated that the amount of aid currently being sent to this war-torn area is insufficient.