EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has authorized the entry of desperately needed aid inside the war-torn Palestinian enclave following days of pressure from the international community.
About 20 trucks carrying water, food, medicines, and other supplies will be allowed to enter Gaza.
There are expectations the Rafah border crossing will reopen on Friday but Israel, Egypt, and the White House said the critical aid could start entering Gaza in the next few days.
At present, more than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid are positioned near the Rafah crossing which serves as Gaza’s only connection to Egypt.
Egypt has sent machinery to repair the roads across the border destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.
Some of the aid is stockpiled in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula while more aid is currently stationed in the Egyptian city of Al Arish, about 45 kilometers from Rafah.
The delivery of limited humanitarian aid to Gaza will take place after US President Joe Biden held talks with the Egyptian president during his whirlwind visit to Israel.
The Israeli government however warned the aid would end once Hamas confiscated the supplies.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a ceasefire, and for the war to end as soon as possible during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday.
Egypt agreed to open the border after the bombing of a crowded hospital in Gaza that killed hundreds of people created a widespread fury across the Middle East.
