The First Humanitarian Aid Shipment Entered Gaza Through the 'Karem Shalom' Crossing

The 'Karem Shalom' crossing between Israel and Gaza was opened on Sunday, December 17, for the first time since the war began, allowing humanitarian aid trucks to enter. According to Reuters, this move could double the amount of food and medicine entering Gaza. The crossing had been closed since the Hamas attack on October 6, with aid only being sent from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, where Israel had allowed only 100 trucks per day. Two sources from the Egyptian Red Crescent told Reuters that trucks began entering Gaza via the 'Karem Shalom' crossing on Sunday, with one source reporting that 79 trucks entered. 'Karem Shalom', located at the border of Egypt, Israel, and Gaza, is one of the main transit points for goods in and out of Gaza, allowing for much faster transit compared to the Rafah crossing just a few kilometers away. The 'Humanitarian Coordinator for Palestinians' unit, which is part of the Israeli army, stated: 'In adherence to our agreement with the United States, starting today (December 17), aid trucks will enter Gaza directly through 'Karem Shalom' after security checks.' Colonel Elad Goren from the 'Humanitarian Coordinator for Palestinians' unit told Reuters that aid may not reach Gaza because humanitarian agencies there have not increased their distribution capacity in response to the influx of Palestinians fleeing to the south, as advised by Israel. Goren stated: 'If the UN does not have the capacity to collect and distribute, it does not matter how many crossings we open.' He added: 'We have adapted to the conditions. Unfortunately, the UN has not.' According to Reuters, UN aid agencies were not immediately available for comment. Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Friday, December 15, the reopening of the 'Karem Shalom' crossing for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The issuance of this statement came after increased pressure from the United States and hours after Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, met with Israeli officials. Sullivan welcomed the move shortly after Netanyahu's office's announcement, describing it as 'an important step.' The National Security Advisor stated that Washington encourages Israel to focus on targeting Hamas leaders instead of extensive bombing and ground operations. Netanyahu's office revealed for the first time in its recent statement that based on last month's ceasefire agreement, Israel committed to facilitating the daily entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid into Gaza. After the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Israeli forces besieged the Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas, and Netanyahu declared at that time that no aid would be allowed into Gaza. Two weeks later, Israel permitted the entry of humanitarian aid trucks from the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, adding that it would not open the 'Karem Shalom' border for humanitarian aid until hostages were present in Gaza. The reopening of the 'Karem Shalom' crossing for humanitarian aid to Gaza; the U.S. welcomed it. The Israeli Prime Minister confirmed 'new negotiations' for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The head of Mossad and the Prime Minister of Qatar discussed the release of hostages in Gaza. The UN Secretary-General expressed dissatisfaction; humanitarian aid to Gaza is insufficient even with a ceasefire. The Israeli army claims to have discovered 'weapons and tunnels' in the vacation home of Yahya Sinwar. The French Foreign Minister called for an 'immediate and sustainable' ceasefire in Gaza. Senior Pentagon officials are on their way to Israel; the U.S. is calling for greater caution in the Gaza war.