Aid, goods flow into Gaza through Israel

Trucks full of commercial goods and aid are passing through the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing as Gazans begin to rebuild their lives on the second day of a permanent ceasefire.

“During the war we used to come and go, but we were all bringing aid,” said a truck driver called Abu Amer.

“Now I’m bringing goods for the shops in Gaza,” he told AFP as he watched his truck full of diapers being inspected.

Other trucks were carrying furniture, fruits, and non-perishable foodstuffs, as well as what looked like water tanks, But there was no sign of any construction materials being brought in.

On Wednesday, more than 200 tons of aid from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Turkey trundled into Gaza from Egypt, entering via the Rafah border crossing, an official at the frontier tells AFP.

A World Food Program aid convoy arrived in Gaza for the first time since 2007, also crossing from Egypt, and carrying enough food to last 150,000 people for five days, the Geneva-based agency says.

Another line of trucks took in 150 tons of medicine and medical equipment from Saudi Arabia, and 45 tons of health supplies arrived from an Oman welfare organization. Turkey also sent humanitarian aid, officials say.

— AFP