Israel says key crossing to north Gaza opens for humanitarian aid

Israel has said it has opened a key crossing into northern Gaza on Wednesday to allow the entry of humanitarian aid supplied by the United Nations and other international organisations.

"Today, the Zikim crossing has been opened for the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip," Cogat, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said on X.

When contacted by AFP, a Cogat spokesman said the crossing would now remain open "permanently", like the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza, through which the bulk of aid has been transferred since the war began in October 2023.