Over 30,000 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid Sent to Gaza Through Cyprus

More than 30,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid have been delivered to Gaza through Cyprus’ Amalthea aid corridor since its launch, according to Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. The aid, consisting primarily of food supplies, has been transported via Cyprus as part of an international effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Kombos said Cyprus has maintained personnel at the civil-military coordination centre located in Kiryat Gat, northeast of the Gaza Strip, since the centre became operational. He added that the Cypriot government is now working to expand the range of items permitted through the corridor to include dual-use goods, which could further support humanitarian and recovery needs inside Gaza.

The foreign minister noted that President Nikos Christodoulides’ invitation to participate in the summit on the future of Gaza, held in Sharm El-Sheikh in October, reflected international recognition of Cyprus’ role. He described the invitation as a sign of appreciation from both Egypt and the United States for Cyprus’ efforts in facilitating aid delivery.

Looking ahead, Kombos said there is potential for establishing a more regular flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Israel’s port of Ashdod, using an existing mechanism coordinated with the United Nations Office for Project Services. He confirmed that a recent shipment of 1,000 tonnes of aid has already arrived and is currently being distributed to civilians.

The Amalthea initiative has faced challenges since its inception. In 2024, United Nations officials expressed concerns that maritime aid routes could not replace land crossings. A U.S.-built temporary jetty off the coast of Gaza, which was used briefly to deliver aid from Cyprus, encountered structural failures and operational disruptions before being dismantled.

More recently, aid transfers through Ashdod have shown greater stability, prompting renewed optimism about sustaining humanitarian deliveries. During the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, Christodoulides reportedly presented the Amalthea mechanism as part of a broader plan to support the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for Gaza’s future, highlighting Cyprus’ fast-track security screening procedures as a viable model for the next phase of aid operations.