Even as IDF continues ops in Gaza, 61 trucks of aid enter Gaza via Rafah border

While Israel continues to pound Hamas strongholds to neutralise high-value targets in Gaza, humanitarian aid has started flowing into the war zone that has seen civilian casualties on a large scale. According to Times of Israel, 61 trucks of aid material crossed into Gaza Thursday via the Rafah border. The publication quoted the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), an undertaking of the Israeli Ministry of Defence that engages in coordinating civilian issues between the Government of Israel, the Israel Defence Forces, international organizations, diplomats, and the Palestinian Authority. The trucks, said reports, contained food, water and medical supplies. This was in addition to the humanitarian efforts of international organisations and several countries. The US has also said that it would increase the daily number of trucks crossing into Gaza to 100, The Times of Israel reported. The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris met with the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday and discussed the support for Israel’s right to defend itself as well as the urgent need to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. According to a White House statement, recently, US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi committed to the significant acceleration and increase of assistance flowing into Gaza beginning today and then continuously. Meanwhile, India has also sent 38 tons of food and critical medical equipment to the civilians in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, the IDF stated that instead of building bomb shelters to save civilians, Hamas is building underground tunnels to save themselves as the terror group doesn’t value the lives of Gazan civilians. Hamas has been directing all its civilian resources to one goal–eliminating the State of Israel, according to the IDF, citing Hamas senior official. Moreover, for the first time since October 7, Egypt on Thursday allowed Gazans – wounded and those with foreign passports – to cross into its territory.