Head Of Key Border Crossing Killed In Israeli Strike, Alleges Hamas

On Thursday, Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip stated that an Israeli strike killed the head of the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

According to the crossings authority and the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, Israeli aircraft hit the infrastructure, killing crossing director Bassem Ghaben, and three other individuals.

Following weeks of pressure, Israel agreed on the temporary reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing on Friday, allowing aid to be transported directly to Gaza, rather than through Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

Tor Wennesland, a United Nations official, stated Tuesday that Israel’s limited moves to enable aid into Gaza were positive, but fell far short of what is required to address the human catastrophe on the ground.

The UN estimates that 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million citizens have been displaced, raising concerns about assistance organizations’ ability to assist.

The war began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,140 people.

According to the Hamas government’s propaganda office, Israel’s retaliatory assault killed at least 20,000 people in the Palestinian territory, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women.

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