RAFAH, Egypt, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A long line of trucks, laden with humanitarian aid, snaked their way towards the heavily guarded Rafah crossing on Sunday morning, hours after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect.
These trucks, carrying food, clothes, medical equipment, tents, mobile toilets, and other relief materials, had been parked in several cities in Egypt's North Sinai Governorate, mainly Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah, some of which had been waiting for months to reach Palestinians in need.
"I have brought in a lot of aid to the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war in October 2023, until the entry of aid to the Strip became almost non-existent due to the harsh Israeli policies," said 65-year-old truck driver Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed.
"Today, I feel happy not only because I will be able to bring in this aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, but also because the people of Gaza will be able to sleep without fear for the first time in more than a year after the ceasefire came into effect this morning," he told Xinhua.
Ibrahim said his truck was carrying clothes and blankets, noting that "the residents of the Strip need them greatly due to the bitter winter cold they suffer from while living in tents."
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, with its first stage spanning 42 days, was reached on Wednesday through the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. It began taking effect on Sunday.
Based on the ceasefire agreement, about 600 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including 50 fuel trucks, would enter Gaza every day to ease the humanitarian crises in the Palestinian enclave.
According to data released by the Press Center of Egypt's State Information Service on Sunday, 330 trucks, including 20 carrying diesel and cooking gas, were headed to the Israeli-controlled crossings for inspection before being delivered to the Gaza Strip.
The scene at the crossing conveyed a sense of urgency mixed with cautious optimism. Drivers and aid workers, weary from the long wait, prepared their vehicles for the journey ahead, eager to deliver much-needed assistance to a population severely impacted by months of conflict.
"Today, I am carrying a shipment of flour for the people of the Gaza Strip, who have been suffering from hunger for many months," said Ahmed al-Sayed, an Egyptian truck driver. "I have been waiting here for about a month to be allowed to deliver my truckload to Gaza."
Sayed expressed hope that the ceasefire would hold so that aid would reach the people of the Strip.
"This aid that you see in front of you has been waiting for months. The delivery mechanism today is good and fast, as dozens of trucks loaded with aid, fuel, and cooking gas were able to enter the Palestinian side," he told Xinhua.
He added that the trucks are first inspected by the Egyptian army, and proceed to the Israeli-controlled crossings for another inspection.
"After that, we head to Gaza to unload the trucks on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. Things seem smoother today, as various types of aid have entered. I hope that the process of delivering aid to Gaza will become easier and that there will be no limit on the number of trucks per day," he said.
The resumption of aid deliveries marks a crucial step in the recovery process for Gaza. However, the long-term challenges facing the enclave remain significant, as much of its infrastructure was devastated during the Israeli attacks, including the need for reconstruction and the restoration of essential services.
Delegations from mediators Qatar and the United States, along with representatives from Palestine and Israel, arrived in Cairo on Sunday to monitor the implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
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