Israeli troops prepare weapons and armed vehicles near the southern city of Ashkelon on 15 October. Photo: GIL COHEN-MAGEN/ AFP
A Palestinian border official has confirmed that aid trucks are rolling in to Gaza through the Rafah border.
Earlier on Saturday the US Embassy in Jerusalem confirmed that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would open at 10am local time.
"The relief aid convoy ... includes 20 trucks that carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies (canned goods)," a statement from Hamas's media office said.
Following the 7 October attacks by Hamas, Israel cut electricity supplies as well as deliveries of food and medicines. The UN has labelled the situation there "beyond catastrophic".
The US and Egypt reached a deal allowing some supplies to start bringing relief to Gaza's 2.2 million residents.
Dozens of trucks with essential medicines, food, and water had been stuck on the Egyptian side of the crossing - the only crossing into Gaza not controlled by Israel.
In a social media post before the border opened, the US embassy earlier said that if the border did open, it did not know how long it would remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza.
Hostages Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were handed over to Israeli forces at the Gaza Strip border on Friday, becoming the first captives whose release by Hamas has been confirmed by both sides since the latest round of Arab-Israeli bloodshed erupted.
Hostages Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, were handed over to Israeli forces at the Gaza Strip border on Friday, becoming the first captives whose release by Hamas has been confirmed by both sides since the latest round of Arab-Israeli bloodshed erupted.
Hamas said the two women, who Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported were dual Israeli-American nationals, were freed "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation.
Meanwhile Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that he would join several world leaders at a summit in Cairo on Saturday aimed at achieving a ceasefire.
The event, hosted by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, would involve talks on trying to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution. Those attending would also include UN Secretary-General António Guterres and representatives from the EU, as well as several Arab and European countries.
- Reuters / BBC
