According to CNN, Israel’s COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) announced on Friday that 276 aid trucks carrying humanitarian supplies underwent inspection and were granted entry into Gaza. COGAT, responsible for administering Israeli policy in Gaza and the West Bank, made this disclosure.
In an official post on X, COGAT shared the information alongside a video showing trucks entering Gaza with humanitarian supplies. The statement from COGAT mentioned, “Nine trucks of medical aid were coordinated to the Emirati Hospital, and nine trucks of medical aid were coordinated to the ICRC Hospital.”
Additionally, COGAT reported that, in addition to ground transportation, 144 pallets carrying tens of thousands of aid packages were airdropped into northern Gaza on Friday. Moreover, COGAT confirmed increased activity along new routes, with 20 trucks utilizing the Jordanian Route and eight trucks transporting flour arriving through the port of Ashdod in Israel.
Last week, Israel announced several major steps to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza under pressure from the United States, as per CNN. However, humanitarian officials noted slow progress and emphasized the need for more efforts amid warnings of famine in the Palestinian enclave.
Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to halt retaliatory actions after Israel conducted a military strike on Iran, as stated by a spokesperson on Friday. The statement emphasized the need to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East and called for international cooperation to prevent further escalation.
According to the ministry of health, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 34,012, following more than six months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. In the past 24 hours, 42 Palestinians died in Israeli attacks, with a further 63 people injured, bringing the total number of wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began to 76,833.
Earlier, a potentially deadly military strike on Iran was launched by Israel, as reported by a US official to CNN. Although no significant damage was recorded, Iran’s air defence systems were activated in response to explosions close to the airport and an army base in Isfahan, as reported by state media early Friday morning. This incident followed Iran’s offensive on targets around Israel last Saturday, in which over 300 unmanned drones and missiles were fired, according to Israeli military authorities.