![Humanitarian aid trucks, crossing from Egypt to Rafah Border Crossing, wait on the border after the announcement of ceasefire and hostage-swap deal between Hamas and Israel on January 19, 2025 in Egypt. [Mohamed Elshahed - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AA-20250119-36799001-36798989-HUMANITARIAN_AID_TRUCKS_CROSS_RAFAH_BORDER_CROSSING_AFTER_ANNOUNCEMENT_OF_CEASEFIRE.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Rafah border crossing with Gaza will reopen within days in the presence of European and Palestinian observers, an Egyptian Governor said on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports.
“The Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing is fully ready for operation,” North Sinai Governor, Khaled Mojawer, told Anadolu.
“The problem lies with the Palestinian side due to damage caused by the Israeli military operations,” he added.
The Governor stressed that the terminal will open “on both directions within days after the repair, with a European-Palestinian presence”.
Mojawer underlined the importance of abidance by Hamas and Israel of a Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect on 19 January “to maintain the delivery of humanitarian aid”.
The Rafah Crossing, a vital route for humanitarian aid into Gaza, has been closed since May 2024 after Israel’s ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah.
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Ever since, humanitarian aid has been allowed into the Palestinian enclave through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing.
The Egyptian Governor hailed Turkiye’s active participation in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
A Turkish aid ship arrived at Egypt’s Al-Arish Port early Wednesday to be delivered to Gaza.
A second Turkish aid ship is set to arrive at the same port on Sunday, according to the Turkish Embassy in Cairo.
Turkish Ambassador in Cairo, Salih Mutlu Shen, said that Ankara has dispatched 14 aid ships carrying 835 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Another ship loaded with 2,000 tons of aid will arrive at Al-Arish port in the coming days.
More than 47,400 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 111,000 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war since 7 October, 2023, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
READ: Israel first US lawmakers fail to push through ICC sanctions bill