Gaza (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israel said it had opened a key crossing, Zikim, into northern Gaza on Wednesday to permit the entry of humanitarian aid supplied by the United Nations and other international organisations into the enclave.
“In accordance with a directive of the political echelon, today (Wednesday), the ‘Zikim’ crossing has been opened for the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip.
The aid will be transferred by the UN and international organisations following thorough security inspections by the Land Crossings Authority of the Ministry of Defence,”
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that manages civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, stated on X.
A COGAT spokesperson stated that the crossing will now stay open “permanently,” similar to the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza, which has handled most of the aid transfer since the war started in October 2023.
Why was the Zikim crossing closed?
The Zikim crossing was officially closed on September 12, 2025. The closure happened because of the start of an Israeli ground offensive called the “Gideon’s Chariots B” operation. The goal was to gain control over northern Gaza, especially Gaza City.
This closure was part of Israel’s military strategy during the operation. It included significant efforts to evacuate civilians while securing the area. The closure greatly hindered humanitarian aid deliveries.
The Israel-Palestine conflict intensified significantly after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This conflict has caused deep and serious effects on the entire Middle East region since it began.
How are humanitarian agencies urging the crossing to reopen?
United Nations agencies and Oxfam expressed serious worries about food shortages in northern Gaza. They urged the reopening of the crossing to allow more aid to reach the devastated northern area, especially after last month’s ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) reported that no aid groups have been able to bring in supplies since the crossing was closed.
“There are grave concerns over fuel and food stock depletion in a matter of days as there are now no direct aid entry points into northern Gaza and resupply from south to north is increasingly challenging due to mounting road congestion and insecurity,”
the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) said in a statement.
Some humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza from the south, but much more is needed. A global hunger monitor stated a month ago that northern Gaza City and nearby areas were officially experiencing famine.
