GAZA, Monday, May 20, 2024 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation forces continue to shut down the Rafah land crossings across the border with the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Karm Abu Salem, the only commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip.

The occupation forces continue to close the Rafah crossing, which led to a complete halt to the movement of passengers, especially the sick and wounded, and the entry of humanitarian aid, or the transfer of accumulated aid to the people of the Gaza Strip in the southern and northern areas.

The Rafah land crossing is considered a lifeline for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and the only land crossing for the entry of aid and the evacuation of the injured individuals.

According to local sources, this incursion and its tight control means deprivation of food and medical aid.

The occupation forces also continue to close the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, with a complete halt to the entry of aid.

A few days ago, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the occupation authorities to reopen the Rafah and Kerem abu Salem crossings “immediately” to allow the entry of  humanitarian aid the Gaza Strip, and called on them to stop this escalation.

"Closing the two crossings at the same time is particularly harmful to the already desperate humanitarian situation, and they must be reopened immediately," Guterres said.

Earlier yesterday, the World Food Program stressed the need for safe and sustainable access to aid in order to prevent famine in the northern Gaza Strip, but Israeli evacuation orders prevent this.

The World Health Organization said yesterday that “supplies of essential medicines and fuel are very low in the Gaza Strip, and movement is limited due to security restrictions.”

While the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that failure to open land crossings and safe access to them portends the continuation of catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

Y.S