12 more humanitarian aid trucks enter Gaza through Rafah crossing

By Mohammed Majed and Ekrem Biceroglu

GAZA, Palestine (AA) - Twelve more humanitarian aid trucks reportedly entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Thursday.

The trucks were carrying water, food, and medicine into the besieged enclave, the director of the crossing's press office, Abu Muhsin, told Anadolu.

Muhsin said that with the latest aid convoy, the total number of trucks that have entered the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 totaled 74.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

The conflict there began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood — a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.