5th Convoy of Humanitarian Aid Trucks Moves from Egypt to Gaza via Kerem Abu Salem

The fifth convoy of humanitarian aid trucks has departed from Egypt toward the Gaza Strip, continuing Egypt’s ongoing efforts to deliver vital relief to Palestinians amid the ongoing crisis.

The aid operation began early Monday at around 6 a.m., with trucks entering through a side gate on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border. From there, they are directed toward the Kerem Abu Salem crossing—currently the only functioning entry point for aid into Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli military control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.

Each convoy includes between 10 and 15 trucks loaded with essential supplies such as food, medicine, and other relief items. The Egyptian Red Crescent has been overseeing the process, organizing trucks based on the sender organizations and ensuring an orderly, systematic entry to facilitate faster clearance and reduce delays.

The Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing remains operational. However, the Palestinian gate has been closed since it was taken over by Israeli forces on May 7, turning the crossing area into a closed military zone and effectively halting the movement of people and medical evacuees.

In response to the closure, Egypt constructed an alternative gate leading directly to the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, about four kilometers from Rafah. Aid trucks are now rerouted through this path before proceeding into Gaza.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi recently stated that Gaza needs between 600 and 700 trucks per day to meet humanitarian needs. At the onset of the crisis, around 500–600 trucks entered daily. However, following the closure of Rafah’s Palestinian gate, aid flow dropped to just 20–30 trucks per day via Kerem Abu Salem. That figure has since increased to between 130 and 180 trucks daily over the past three days.

The Egyptian Red Crescent has deployed approximately 35,000 volunteers along the route from El Arish to Rafah to provide logistical support and respond swiftly to any obstacles. Despite this, Israeli authorities frequently delay the entry of aid for what have been described as "unreasonable" reasons—including the presence of candy in trucks carrying food supplies. Red Crescent teams have since developed the experience necessary to reorganize cargo to comply with Israeli restrictions.

Current aid shipments include flour, food baskets with rice, pasta, canned goods, biscuits, sweets for children, and materials to support the repair of essential infrastructure such as water pipes and storage tanks.

To streamline operations, Egypt has established multiple logistical hubs, the most notable being the “Dergham” zone. This facility can accommodate up to 20,000 trucks and is equipped with accommodations for drivers, as well as systems for inspecting, sorting, and barcoding supplies before dispatching them—ensuring compliance with pre-agreed delivery lists.

The ongoing Egyptian-led humanitarian effort reflects a critical lifeline for Gaza’s population amid continuing restrictions and limited access to essential goods.