Israel has said it has reopened the Zikim crossing to allow humanitarian aid into northern Gaza. The office of the Coordinator of Government Activities, under the Defence Ministry, said in a statement that the crossing has been reopened to allow aid trucks into the Gaza Strip.

 

 

It said, all supplies will be delivered by the United Nations and international organizations after undergoing thorough security checks by Israel’s Land Crossings Authority. Officials say the decision follows a directive from Israel’s political leadership.

 

 

The UN and aid agencies have repeatedly called for more routes to be opened, warning that northern Gaza has been hardest hit by the ongoing conflict. 

 

 

Humanitarian groups say aid deliveries have been slowed by strict Israeli inspections and limits on permitted goods. Even once inside Gaza, distribution remains challenging because of widespread damage to infrastructure and continuing insecurity.