By Henry Nwaneri
The Erez Crossing between Israel and Gaza was re-opened to allow inflow of aid into Gaza on Wednesday.
“This is the first day that we re-opened Erez crossing for a robust and continuous route for entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” said Col. Moshe Tetro, Head of COGAT’s Coordination and Liaison Administration to Gaza.
The re-opening took place after pressure came upon Israel when the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken held meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem for about two hours, discussing the need to sustain humanitarian deliveries to Gaza.
Part of the discussion also include hostage and ceasefire negotiations; and efforts to “ensure a lasting, sustainable peace in the region”, a reference to broader talks the US has been holding with Saudi Arabia about a possible normalisation of relations with Israel, as well as the prospects for establishing a Palestinian state, which the Israeli prime minister adamantly opposes. Blinken also restated Washington’s determined opposition to Israel’s planned offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Blinken said, “We’re now seeing a real flow of assistance that is going to the people in Gaza.
“A convoy of aid trucks from Jordan had passed through the Erez crossing for the first time on Wednesday.
“That’s very important because that’s direct access to the north of Gaza.”
Before Hamas’ October 7 attack, Erez served as a passenger crossing for Palestinians, including medical patients, laborers and travelers, going in and out of Gaza. The crossing suffered heavy damage in the Oct. 7 attack and has been closed since then for nearly seven months.
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