Egypt has been praised by the Supreme Authority for Palestinian Tribal Affairs in the Gaza Strip for its efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave amid the ongoing Israeli aggression.
According to the Commissioner General of the Supreme Tribal Authority, Akef Al-Masry, Egypt has spared no effort to provide aid and medical and relief materials to the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israeli attack on October 7. He said that the Egyptian state has coordinated with the Egyptian Red Crescent and other agencies to organize the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
Al-Masry also appreciated the Egyptian efforts in defending the rights of the Palestinian people in international forums and mobilizing international public opinion to support their cause. He said that Egypt has opened its doors to the passage of humanitarian and relief aid to the people of Gaza, who are suffering from the criminal Israeli aggression, and provided about 80% of the aid directed to the enclave.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has been under a tight Israeli blockade since 2007, which has severely restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory. The situation has worsened since the outbreak of the latest round of violence on October 7, when Israel launched a massive aerial and ground assault on the enclave, killing more than 1,000 people, injuring more than 6,000, and displacing more than 200,000.
The UN has warned of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as the enclave is running out of basic supplies, such as food, water, fuel, and medicine. The UN has also been unable to replenish its stocks of lifesaving aid since Israel closed all borders with Gaza. The UN agencies, partners, and nations have rushed to dispatch aid to Gaza, but they have been unable to deliver it due to the Israeli restrictions and bombardment.
Aid Convoy at Gaza Border
Over the weekend, a long convoy of trucks carrying hundreds of tonnes of essential goods, from ready-to-eat food to latex gloves for emergency surgeries, arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, waiting for Israel’s green light to enter Gaza. The convoy included donations from UN agencies, partners, and nations, such as Jordan, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Egypt’s contribution of 100 trucks carrying 1,000 tonnes of aid.
The convoy also included medical supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO), which has sent two shipments from its logistics hub in Dubai to replenish its pre-positioned stocks in Gaza, which have dwindled to dangerously low levels. The WHO said that every hour these supplies remain on the Egyptian side of the border, more girls and boys, women and men, especially those vulnerable or disabled, will die.
Near the aid convoy, media reports observed rows of ambulances and emergency health workers waiting to tend to injured Gazans. The UN has also called for the opening of a safe aid delivery corridor to allow the humanitarian workers and supplies to reach the people in need.
Gaza Tribes’ Appreciation
The General Commissioner of the Tribes, Al-Masry, said that the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip highly appreciate the sincere Egyptian efforts to provide relief and shelter for them. He said that the tribes are proud of the historical and brotherly relations between the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples, and that they stand by Egypt in its efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region. 1
Al-Masry also held the Israeli government responsible for preventing the entry of food and medical supplies and all necessary supplies, including fuel and other supplies, in addition to the genocidal war carried out by the occupation forces in the Gaza Strip and working to kill the Palestinians with all types of weapons, as well as starving them. He called on the international community to intervene to stop the Israeli aggression and lift the siege on Gaza.