Following a commitment to President Joe Biden, Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom Crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, allowing humanitarian aid to resume after a temporary closure due to a deadly Hamas rocket attack. The crossing’s reopening comes after an attack on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers and injuries to ten others, prompted its closure.

The Hamas group, which governs Gaza, claimed responsibility for the attack originating near Gaza’s Rafah Crossing with Egypt. In response, Israeli forces have maintained operations in that area, keeping the Rafah Crossing closed.

COGAT, the Defense Ministry’s liaison unit, confirmed that Kerem Shalom was operational from Wednesday morning under directives from Israel’s political leadership. Trucks, primarily coming from Egypt, are inspected at this crossing by Israeli officials before entering Gaza, a process that has been a standard practice in recent months.

The reopening of Kerem Shalom is seen as a crucial step in easing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where ongoing military actions have intensified the needs of the displaced and affected populations. Despite this positive development at Kerem Shalom, the situation in southern Gaza remains tense, with continued military engagement and closed crossings due to security concerns.