A shipment of humanitarian aid left Cyprus for Gaza as United Nations reports people in Gaza are on the brink of famine and 100,000 Palestinians in Rafah have been ordered to evacuate. Israel has sent tanks to seize the Rafah crossing with Egypt and is contemplating an all-out invasion. The U.S. opposes this invasion, with President Joe Biden stating that offensive weapons will not be supplied for such an attack. Biden is committed to supplying defensive arms to Israel, but not for an attack on Rafah. However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has expressed support for a military operation in Rafah and suggested that Hamas may support Biden.
The humanitarian aid shipment from Cyprus comes after the U.S. constructed a floating platform off the Gaza coast to serve as a launching pad for aid deliveries. The vessel, Sagamore, aims to transfer aid to Gaza through a maritime corridor, as land crossings are stringent and airdrops are insufficient. The construction of the temporary pier and causeway has been completed by the U.S. military, but due to weather conditions, the installation process has been postponed. Smaller vessels may transport the aid directly to Gaza if conditions do not permit offloading onto the pier. Humanitarian workers stress the urgency of land access for aid delivery, but the closure of crossings has impeded the entry of essential supplies.
The closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings has severely disrupted aid distribution in Gaza. Fuel shipments have been cut off, putting the territory’s distribution network at risk of collapse. The threat of an Israeli invasion in Rafah, where many aid groups operate, further complicates the situation. Although Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing, aid groups report that no trucks have entered Gaza due to safety concerns. Unloading and reloading cargo at the crossing is impossible because workers in Gaza cannot access the facility. Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, with a recent strike killing eight people, including four children in Tel al-Sultan.
The escalating crisis in Gaza, with ongoing attacks and humanitarian suffering, underscores the urgent need for aid and access to essential supplies. The international community, including the U.S. and Cyprus, is working to deliver humanitarian assistance to alleviate the dire situation. However, the challenges posed by closures, threats of invasion, and logistical constraints impede the effective distribution of aid. As the situation continues to deteriorate, there is a pressing need for international cooperation and a diplomatic solution to prevent further escalation of violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
