Jerusalem, 11 Dec (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the ** Territorial Activities Coordination Office under the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on the evening of 11 December that Israel will reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing on 12 December to inspect humanitarian aid supplies entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Trucks carrying water, food, medical supplies and shelter equipment will undergo security screening at the Nichana crossing between Kerem Shalom and Israel before being transported to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing, the statement said.
The statement stressed that Israel would not provide any assistance directly to the Gaza Strip.
According to a number of reports, the move is expected to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip "faster". The Times of Israel reported that since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, rescue trucks entering the Gaza Strip have only been subject to Israeli security checks at the Nichana crossing, which has led to delays in the entry of relief supplies into the Gaza Strip.
The Kerem Shalom crossing is located on the border between Israel and the southeastern Gaza Strip. Before the outbreak of the new Israeli-Palestinian conflict, more than 60 per cent of the cargo entered the Gaza Strip through this crossing.
Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said on the 7th that if the Kerem Shalom crossing is opened, it will have a "major boost" for more aid to enter the Gaza Strip. (ENDS).