Aid trucks begin entering Gaza

CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — Aid trucks had begun entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Sunday, AFPTV footage showed, as Israel announced a "tactical pause" in parts of the devastated territory to allow deliveries.

Egyptian state-linked media had earlier confirmed the movement of convoys, sharing footage of trucks at the border area.

Trucks crossing the Rafah border, however, cannot enter Gaza directly as the Palestinian side of the crossing was seized by the Israel military last year and has been badly damaged.

Instead, they must detour a few kilometers to the nearby Kerem Shalom (Karam Abu Salem) crossing, which is controlled by Israel. There, they are inspected before being allowed into southern Gaza.

Agence France-Presse footage showed large trucks loaded with white sacks moving through the Egyptian side of the Rafah gate.

Some trucks displayed the logo of the Egyptian Red Crescent, while others had the Emirati flag, with signs reading: "United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Humanitarian Aid to Gaza — Water Support Projects in Gaza."

The Israeli military said Sunday the daily pause in the enclave, running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., would apply only to specific areas, including Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah, and parts of Gaza City, where Israeli troops are not currently operating.

It added that secure routes had been opened across the enclave to facilitate United Nations and other aid convoys.

The move comes amid mounting international pressure over Gaza's worsening hunger crisis. Israel began air-dropping food into the territory, following similar announcements from the UAE and United Kingdom.

However, humanitarian officials remain sceptical. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned air drops were "expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians."

Israel insists it is not restricting aid and claims some United Nations agencies are failing to distribute supplies already inside Gaza.

But relief organizations accuse the military of limiting access and creating dangerous conditions near distribution centers.

On Saturday, Gaza's civil defense agency said over 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes and shootings, including some waiting for aid.