Rafah: The 227th humanitarian aid convoy, "Zad Al-Ezza... From Egypt to Gaza," resumed its entry into the Gaza Strip through the auxiliary gate of Rafah Land Port toward the Karam Abu Salem crossing. This entry took place on Sunday, July 05, 2026, after a two-day suspension on Friday and Saturday.
According to State Information Service Egypt, an official source reported that the convoy's trucks are carrying large quantities of food supplies and humanitarian relief aid. The aid is subject to inspection by Israeli authorities before being permitted into the enclave. The reopening of the crossings comes after Israeli authorities had closed them on March 02, 2025, following the expiration of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the failure to extend the truce. This closure was marked by the resumption of intensive airstrikes and renewed ground operations by Israel on March 18, 2025.
During the closure, Israeli authorities blocked the entry of vital humanitarian aid, fuel, and shelter supplies for displaced Palestinians. They also refused the entry of heavy equipment necessary for debris removal and reconstruction efforts. The situation improved when humanitarian aid deliveries resumed in May 2025 under a mechanism implemented by Israeli authorities and a US security company. This mechanism faced objections from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which argued that it was inconsistent with established international aid distribution mechanisms.
On July 27, 2025, the Israeli military announced a temporary 10-hour humanitarian pause, which suspended military operations in parts of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States continued efforts to broker a comprehensive ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. These efforts led to an agreement reached on October 9, 2025, between Hamas and Israel for the first phase of a ceasefire plan proposed by US President Donald Trump during the Sharm El Sheikh summit, with mediation support from Egypt, America, and Qatar, as well as Turkish backing.
The second phase of this agreement came into force on February 02, 2026, after the completion of prisoner exchanges and the handover of the remains of the last Israeli hostage under the first phase. The agreement permitted Palestinians to return to Gaza and allowed wounded and injured Palestinians to leave the enclave for medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals following the reopening of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing.