TEL AVIV: Egypt has agreed to open the Rafah corridor, much to the relief of people in Gaza, which has run out of medicine, food and drinking water. Trucks, waiting with essential supplies, may reach Gaza from today. In the beginning, 20 trucks will be allowed to pass through the corridor. More than 200 trucks with 3000 tons of goods are waiting to reach Gaza.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi agreed to open the border following a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden. The other day, Israel had given permission to deliver aid to Gaza. However, Israel has not said anything about granting fuel for generators in hospitals. US President Joe Biden had announced the other day that it would not provide essential supplies to Hamas and would stop the movement of the trucks if Hamas intercepted or seized them. The Rafah crossing is the only way to deliver aid to Gaza from outside Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel executed the head of Hamas's National Security Forces, Jihad Muheisen, and his family. His house in Gaza City was bombed. Jamila al-Shanti, the only female member of Hamas's politburo, was also killed in an Israeli airstrike. Jamila, 68, is the widow of Hamas co-founder Abdul Aziz al-Antisi.

Israel deployed more troops on the Lebanese border to fight Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia has warned all its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. The Israeli military said at least 203 people were being held hostage by Hamas. Six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reached Israel yesterday and said that Britain would stand by Israel in "its darkest hour". During his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunak welcomed the decision to allow aid into Gaza. He also announced financial aid to Palestine.

Horrific scenes from Al-Ahli Hospital
Several dead bodies were recovered from the ruins of the Al-Ahli Hospital on Thursday as well. Although the injured were shifted to various hospitals in Gaza City, there are no medicines for their treatment. Many have lost their limbs and are left with festering wounds. The hospital authorities released the footage of the bloodied bodies of toddlers being laid on stretchers.