Preparations underway to boost aid in Gaza as ceasefire offers hope after two-year war

Authorities began preparing today (12 October) to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip following a new ceasefire deal, raising hopes that the devastating two-year war may be nearing an end.

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), responsible for managing humanitarian aid, said the daily flow of aid trucks is expected to rise to about 600 per day under the agreement.

Egypt announced it will send 400 aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday, all of which must undergo inspection by Israeli forces before entry.

Footage from the Rafah crossing showed dozens of trucks carrying medical supplies, food, fuel, tents, and blankets. These will be checked at the Kerem Shalom crossing before distribution. In recent months, only about 20% of needed aid reached Gaza due to fighting, border closures, and Israeli restrictions.

The blockade and ongoing offensives had triggered a severe hunger crisis in Gaza, including famine in some areas. The UN has roughly 170,000 tonnes of food, medicine, and other aid ready to enter once Israel approves.

The future of the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a US and Israel-backed contractor that replaced UN operations as the primary food distributor in May, remains uncertain.

Several distribution sites in Rafah, Khan Younis, and the Netzarim corridor have been dismantled following the ceasefire, leaving many Palestinians without immediate access to aid.

Preparations are also underway for the release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Israel's coordinator for hostages, Gal Hirsch, informed families that the release of living hostages—estimated at 20 of 48—would begin Monday.

Dead hostages will be transferred to the Forensic Institute for identification, and an international task force will search for those not immediately recovered.

US President Donald Trump, who helped negotiate the ceasefire, is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday to meet hostages' families and address the Knesset, before continuing to Egypt to co-chair a regional peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and other leaders.

Some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 detained during the war, are also expected to be released under the agreement, though the timing has not yet been announced.

Gaza health authorities are preparing for the return of 1,900 prisoners, many needing urgent medical attention, as well as for the repatriation of bodies held by Israel. Officials have called for the release of medical personnel detained during the war.

As Palestinians returned to areas vacated by Israeli forces, many found their homes destroyed. Satellite imagery showed long lines of vehicles traveling north to Gaza City, while makeshift tents along the coastline housed residents seeking shelter from prior bombardment. Hamas-run police were patrolling the streets and escorting aid trucks to ensure security.

The conflict began on 7 October, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.

Israel's counteroffensive has killed over 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local health ministry, which counts both civilians and combatants. About 90% of Gaza's two million residents have been displaced, and large areas have been destroyed.

Although both sides welcomed the initial halt to fighting and plans for prisoner and hostage releases, the long-term stability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Key issues such as Gaza's governance and Hamas' future have yet to be resolved. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military has been instructed to prepare to dismantle Hamas' tunnel network in Gaza under US-supervised international mechanisms once hostages are released.