**New Crossing Opens in Gaza as US Gives Israel 30 Days to Boost Aid**
The Israeli military has opened a new crossing into the Gaza Strip, named Kissufim. This move comes after the US gave Israel 30 days to increase aid shipments or face reduced military support.
Israel’s Cogat agency, which handles humanitarian affairs in Gaza, said most of the US demands have been met, and those that haven’t are being discussed. However, the US wants more progress on certain issues that were already being addressed.
Journalists were allowed to film aid trucks entering Gaza at a crossing called Zikim. These trucks carried essential supplies like flour, rice, and toilet paper. But despite this effort, aid is still not getting into Gaza quickly enough. The UN says only around 40 trucks are entering the strip each day.
Israel disputes these figures, blaming the UN for failing to deliver aid. They claim hundreds of pallets of supplies are waiting on the Gaza side of the border and that some aid trucks are being looted by armed men. The UN disagrees, saying it’s Israel’s responsibility as the occupying power to allow safe passage of aid.
For over a year, Israel has faced criticism for its actions in Gaza, which have resulted in thousands of Palestinian deaths. Many of these deaths were caused by US-supplied weapons used against Hamas after an attack on October 7, 2023. The Biden administration is unlikely to cut off military support now, despite the heavy toll on Palestinian lives.
The new crossing and increased aid shipments are seen as a gesture towards meeting some of the US demands. However, more needs to be done to address the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.