CAIRO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Tuesday sent its 18th humanitarian convoy into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, part of its effort to deliver aid to Palestinians facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The convoy, which left the Egyptian side of Rafah early in the morning, comprised dozens of trucks carrying food baskets, Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported.
It was the latest mission under the "Zad al-Izza (Provision of Honor): From Egypt to Gaza" initiative launched on July 27 by the Egyptian Red Crescent. The group said it has organized more than 1,450 trucks carrying thousands of tonnes of supplies, with help from about 35,000 volunteers. It said nearly 36,000 trucks carrying about 500,000 tonnes of aid have entered Gaza so far.
On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty visited the Rafah crossing with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, highlighting Cairo's role in relief operations. Abdelatty said Egypt has supplied "more than 70 percent of the total humanitarian aid allocated to the Gaza Strip," while pressing for a ceasefire and safe, unconditional access for relief deliveries. He said Gaza needs 700 to 900 trucks a day and that more than 5,000 were waiting on the Egyptian side.
The aid push came as a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday that Israel is demanding the release of all hostages still held in Gaza, a day after Hamas said it had accepted a ceasefire-for-hostage proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not reject the plan outright but said Israel "demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet for ending the war."
Hamas said on Monday it had accepted the proposal and was ready for new talks. Qatar said the plan was "almost identical" to an earlier version Israel had accepted, raising hopes for progress.
Palestinian sources said the proposal calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, alongside immediate humanitarian relief including fuel, water, and electricity, and support for hospitals, bakeries, and rescue teams.
The war erupted when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza's health authorities say Israel's subsequent offensive has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians and triggered famine conditions that have claimed dozens of lives. Enditem