By Awad al-Rujoub
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Tuesday that another 59 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.
"Our crews have received this evening 59 trucks loaded with aid via the Rafah border crossing,” the humanitarian organization said in a statement.
The trucks contained food, water, relief aid, medicines and medical supplies, according to the statement.
A total of 217 trucks with aid supplies excluding fuel have arrived in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, it added.
The UN said that before the latest conflict, an average of 500 trucks entered the territory every day. But all of that stopped after the breakout of fighting in Gaza, leaving the Palestinian enclave with a severe shortage of food, water and medicines.
According to UN projections, at least 100 truckloads are needed daily to supply the 2.3 million people who live in the Gaza Strip with basic necessities.
The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise offensive against Israel on Oct. 7.
The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,525, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Tuesday.
“The victims include 3,542 children and 2,187 women, while 21,543 other people were injured,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a press conference in Gaza City.
More than 1,538 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.
*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat