Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah crossing into Gaza for the purpose of allowing humanitarian aid to be transported. US President Joe Biden made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Sisi had given permission for around 20 aid trucks to cross initially. Biden, who had just returned from a visit to Israel, explained that the shipment would likely take place on Friday, as the road at the crossing needed repairs.
The decision to allow the aid trucks through serves as a test to ensure that the aid is distributed without benefiting Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization that controls Gaza. The United Nations will oversee the distribution of the aid on the Gaza side of the border. Biden asserted that if Hamas confiscates or hinders the delivery of the aid, then further shipments will be halted, as the commitment is to provide aid only if it reaches those in need and not Hamas.
While originally planning to meet with Sisi in a four-way summit in Jordan, Biden had to cancel due to an attack on a Gaza hospital that sparked anger across the Arab world. However, Biden did speak with Sisi for approximately 30 minutes from Air Force One and expressed his appreciation for Sisi’s accommodation.
The US president described his trip to the war zone as a success, emphasizing that he had been very frank with Israeli officials about the importance of allowing aid into Gaza. Biden maintained that if there is an opportunity to alleviate suffering, it should be taken, as failing to do so would undermine credibility worldwide.
Regarding reports suggesting that the US had promised to fight alongside Israeli forces in the event of an attack by Hezbollah, Biden clarified that this was not true. However, he admitted that discussions between the US and Israeli military were underway to explore potential alternatives in the case of a Hezbollah attack.
In summary, Egypt’s President al-Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah crossing to allow the passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza. This initial shipment of around 20 trucks will be a test to ensure that the aid reaches those in need without benefiting Hamas. The United Nations will oversee the aid distribution on the Gaza side of the border. President Biden expressed his appreciation for al-Sisi’s cooperation and stressed the importance of providing aid to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.
