The Israeli army announced on Wednesday the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, a vital lifeline for aid operations in Gaza, despite recent rocket attacks targeting the area.
According to a statement from the military, the crossing was once again targeted by rocket fire on Wednesday morning, resulting in one soldier sustaining light injuries. The army identified eight rocket launches originating from the Rafah area into the Kerem Shalom vicinity.
The decision to reopen the crossing comes after it was closed for three days following a deadly Hamas rocket attack on Sunday, which claimed the lives of four soldiers. Another rocket launch targeted the crossing on Monday.
Despite the reopening, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that the Kerem Shalom crossing remained closed from their perspective. The Rafah crossing, which is crucial for UNRWA’s aid operations, was seized by Israeli troops in an overnight incursion on Monday.
UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma emphasized the significance of the Rafah crossing for delivering essential supplies, particularly fuel, to Gaza. Without fuel entering through Rafah, trucks are unable to collect aid from Kerem Shalom, leading to disruptions in humanitarian assistance.
Touma stated that due to the closure, humanitarian supplies had been scarce for the past three days, necessitating the rationing of fuel. Gaza requires an estimated 300,000 liters of fuel daily for humanitarian purposes.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ally, the United States, has also called for the reopening of both the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Despite ongoing security challenges, the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing underscores the critical importance of maintaining aid operations to address the humanitarian needs of the population in Gaza.
Read Now:New coronavirus vaccine shows promise against known and unknown strains
