First Aid Trucks Enter Gaza from Egypt as Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Takes Effect

SEAToday.com, Cairo – The first humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza from Egypt on Sunday (1/19) as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began to take effect, according to Palestinian sources.

The sources told Xinhua that the aid crossed into the coastal enclave through the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the southern part of Gaza.

Earlier that day, Egyptian state TV channel Nile TV showed footage of dozens of aid trucks passing through the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, where they were first inspected by Israeli authorities before crossing into the Palestinian side to enter Gaza.

Delegates from Qatar, the United States, and other parties, including representatives from Palestine and Israel, arrived in Cairo on Sunday to monitor the implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, according to the report from the TV channel.

Under the ceasefire agreement, about 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including 50 trucks with fuel, will enter Gaza daily to alleviate the humanitarian crisis there.

The first phase of the 42-day ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, came into effect on Sunday after Hamas provided a list of three Israeli female prisoners to be released later that day, the report explained.

Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the ceasefire agreement had been implemented.